Power of a Point and

Radical Axis
 Highlights
1 Theory: Power of Point
2 Theory: Radical Axis
Qno: 1,2,3 Direct Concept
Qno: 4 Concept Application
Qno: 5, 6 Geometry Enthusiasts
Qno: 7 USAMO
 POWER OF A POINT

Let ω be a circle with centre O and radius r, and let P be

a point. The power of P with respect to ω is defined to
be the difference of squared length PO2 – r2.
This is positive, zero, or negative according as P is
outside, on, or inside the circle ω.

PA.PB = PX.PY
= (PO + r)(PO – r)
= PO2 – r2
 Radical Axis

Definition:
Given two non-concentric circle ω1and ω2 , there exists a
line l consisting of all points P for which
P(ω1) = P(ω2).
The line l is known as the radical axis of ω1 and ω2.
P

ω1 ω2
 Observations
(1) When two circles are intersecting, then the radical axis is nothing
but the common chord.

(2) When two circles are touching each other, the radical axis is the
common tangent at their point of contact.

(3) Radical axis is always perpendicular to the line joining the two
centres.

(4) If one of the circles completely lies inside the other(but not
concentric) then the radical axis of the two circles lie outside(in the
same side also) the two circles.
 Theorem

(1) Concentric circles do not have a radical axis.

(2) Radical axes of 3 circles taken in pairs are concurrent.

ω1

O
ω2 ω3

Clearly, the lengths of the tangents from O to all the circles are
equal.
Q1. Find the value of x in the following diagram:

A
3 x

B D
10
5
C E
Q1. Find the value of x in the following diagram:

Answer: 2 A
3 x

B D
10
5
C E
Solution:

Applying the Power of a Point Theorem,

we get 3. (3 + 5) = x(x + 10) → x2 + 10x – 24 = 0.
This factors as (x + 12) (x – 2) = 0.
We discard the negative solution since distance must be
positive.
Thus x = 2.
Q2. DEB is a chord of a circle such that DE = 3 and
EB = 5. Let O be the centre of the circle. Joint OE and
extend OE to cut the circle at C. Given EC = 1, find the
radius of the circle

B C
E
D
O
Q2. DEB is a chord of a circle such that DE = 3 and
EB = 5. Let O be the centre of the circle. Joint OE and
extend OE to cut the circle at C. Given EC = 1, find the
radius of the circle
Answer: 8
B C
E
D
O
Solution:

First extend CO to meet the circle at P. Let the radius be r.

Applying power of point, (EP) (CE) = (BE) (ED) and 2 r – 1 = 15.
Hence r = 8
Q3. Circles C1 and C2 have radii 3 and 7 respectively.
The circles intersect at distinct points A and B. A point
P outside C2 lies on the line determined by A and B at a
distance of 5 from the center of C1. Point Q is chosen
on C2 so that PQ is tangent to C2 at Q. Find the length
of the segment PQ.

C2
C1 A
3 5
O1 O2

B
Q3. Circles C1 and C2 have radii 3 and 7 respectively.
The circles intersect at distinct points A and B. A point
P outside C2 lies on the line determined by A and B at a
distance of 5 from the center of C1. Point Q is chosen
on C2 so that PQ is tangent to C2 at Q. Find the length
of the segment PQ.

Answer: 4 P

C2
C1 A
3 5
O1 O2

B
Solution:

P lies on the radical axis of C1 and C2 and hence has

equal power with respect to both circles Now
PQ2 = Power of P with respect to C2
= Power of P with respect to C1
= 52 – 32 = 16.
 AMC 12 2020

Q4. In unit square ABCD, the inscribed circle ω

intersects at M, and intersects ω at a point P
different from M. What is AP?
B C
A

B
ω
M

C
P
D
A D
 AMC 12 2020

Q4. In unit square ABCD, the inscribed circle ω

intersects at M, and intersects ω at a point P
different from M. What is AP?
B C
A

B
ω
M

C
P
D
A D
Solution:

Let circle ω intersect at point N. By Power of a Point, we have

AN2 = AP. AM. we know AN = because N is the midpoint of
and we can easily find AM by the Pythagorean Theorem, which
gives us

Our equation is now = AP . or

Thus our answer is

Q5. Let three circles Γ1, Γ2 , Γ3 with centres A1, A2, A3 and radii r1,
r2, r3 respectively be mutually tangent to each other externally.
Suppose that the tangent to the circumcircle of the triangle
A1 A2 A3 at A3 and the two external common tangents of Γ1 and Γ2
meet at a common point P, as shown in the figure below. Given
that r1 = 18 cm, r2 = 8 cm and r3 = k cm, find the value of k.

A3

A1 A2
P
Q5. Let three circles Γ1, Γ2 , Γ3 with centres A1, A2, A3 and radii r1,
r2, r3 respectively be mutually tangent to each other externally.
Suppose that the tangent to the circumcircle of the triangle
A1 A2 A3 at A3 and the two external common tangents of Γ1 and Γ2
meet at a common point P, as shown in the figure below. Given
that r1 = 18 cm, r2 = 8 cm and r3 = k cm, find the value of k.
Answer: 12
A3

A1 A2
P
Solution:
A3
r3

r1

A1 r1 r2 A2
P

First we shall show that . Let P be the point of concurrence of

the tangent to the circumcircle of the triangle A1 A2 A3 at A3 and the two
external common tangents of Г1 and Г2. Note that the line joining A1 and A2
also passes through P.
First we have That is, = .

On the other hand,

Thus Solving for r3, we obtain .

Substituting r1 = 18, r2 = 8, we get r3 = 12.

 SMO - 2005
Q6. Four points in the order A, B, C, D lie on a circle with the extension of
AB meeting the extension of DC at E and the extension of AD meeting
the extension of BC at F. Let EP and FQ be tangents to this circle with
points of tangency P and Q respectively. Suppose EP = 60 and FQ = 63.
Determine the length of EF.

A Q
D

C
P B

E
 SMO - 2005
Q6. Four points in the order A, B, C, D lie on a circle with the extension of
AB meeting the extension of DC at E and the extension of AD meeting
the extension of BC at F. Let EP and FQ be tangents to this circle with
points of tangency P and Q respectively. Suppose EP = 60 and FQ = 63.
Determine the length of EF.

A Q
D

C
P B G

E
 SMO - 2005
Q6. Four points in the order A, B, C, D lie on a circle with the extension of
AB meeting the extension of DC at E and the extension of AD meeting
the extension of BC at F. Let EP and FQ be tangents to this circle with
points of tangency P and Q respectively. Suppose EP = 60 and FQ = 63.
Determine the length of EF.

Answer: 87
Solution:

Let the circumcircle of ∆CDF meet the line A Q D

EF at G. Then G, C, D, F are concyclic. Now
∠EBC = ∠ADC = ∠CGF so that E, B, C, G
F
are also concyclic.
Thus, EP2 = EB . EA = EC .ED = EG.EF and
FQ2 = FD . FA = FC . FB = FG . FE.
Therefore EP2 + FQ2 = EG . EF + FG . FE C
P B G
= (EG + FG). EF = EF2.
Consequently
E
 USAMO - 2009

Q7. Given circles ω1 and ω2 intersecting at point X and Y, let l1 be

a line through the center of ω1 intersecting ω2 at points P and Q
and let l2 be a line through the center of ω2 intersecting ω1 at
points R and S. Prove that if P, Q, R and S lie on a circle then the
center of this circle lies on line XY.

Q
S X

P R
O1 O2

Y
 USAMO - 2009

Q7. Given circles ω1 and ω2 intersecting at point X and Y, let l1 be

a line through the center of ω1 intersecting ω2 at points P and Q
and let l2 be a line through the center of ω2 intersecting ω1 at
points R and S. Prove that if P, Q, R and S lie on a circle then the
center of this circle lies on line XY.

O3 Q
S X

P R
O1 O2

Y
Solution:

Let ω3 be the circumcircle of PQRS, ri to be the radius of ωi and Oi to be the

center of the circle ωi, where i ∈{1,2, 3}. Note that SR and PQ are the radical
axises of O1 , O3 and O2 , O3 respectively. Hence by power of a point (the power
of O1 can be expressed using circle ω2 and ω3 and the power of O2 can be
expressed using circle ω1 and ω3).

Subtracting these two equations yields that

So O3 must lie on the radical axis of ω1, ω2