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Circles SAT question

Math · Geometry and Trigonometry · Hard · Answer it here, explanation included.

Which of the following equations represents a circle in the xy-plane that intersects the y-axis at exactly one point?

ExplanationShow

Choice C is correct. The graph of the equation  in the xy-plane is a circle with center  and a radius of length . The radius of a circle is the distance from the center of the circle to any point on the circle. If a circle in the xy-plane intersects the y-axis at exactly one point, then the perpendicular distance from the center of the circle to this point on the y-axis must be equal to the length of the circle's radius. It follows that the x-coordinate of the circle's center must be equivalent to the length of the circle's radius. In other words, if the graph of is a circle that intersects the y-axis at exactly one point, then must be true. The equation in choice C is , or . This equation is in the form , where , , and , and represents a circle in the xy-plane with center and radius of length . Substituting for and for in the equation yields , or , which is true. Therefore, the equation in choice C represents a circle in the xy-plane that intersects the y-axis at exactly one point. 

Choice A is incorrect. This is the equation of a circle that does not intersect the y-axis at any point.

Choice B is incorrect. This is an equation of a circle that intersects the x-axis, not the y-axis, at exactly one point.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the equation of a circle with the center located on the y-axis and thus intersects the y-axis at exactly two points, not exactly one point.

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