Source: Extra Practice

The condition for two circles x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c=0x^2 + y^2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 and x2+y2+2g′x+2f′y+c′=0x^2 + y^2 + 2g'x + 2f'y + c' = 0 to cut each other orthogonally is:

Options

Option A

2gg′+2ff′=c−c′2gg' + 2ff' = c - c'

Option B is correct

2gg′+2ff′=c+c′2gg' + 2ff' = c + c'

Option C

gg′+ff′=c+c′gg' + ff' = c + c'

Option D

2g2+2f2=c+c′2g^2 + 2f^2 = c + c'

Explanation

Let the two circles be S1:x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c=0S_1: x^2 + y^2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 and S2:x2+y2+2g′x+2f′y+c′=0S_2: x^2 + y^2 + 2g'x + 2f'y + c' = 0. Their centers are C1(−g,−f)C_1(-g, -f) and C2(−g′,−f′)C_2(-g', -f'). Their radii are r1=g2+f2−cr_1 = \sqrt{g^2+f^2-c} and r2=g′2+f′2−c′r_2 = \sqrt{g'^2+f'^2-c'}, respectively. If two circles cut each other orthogonally, their tangents at the point of intersection are perpendicular. This implies that the radii drawn to the point of intersection are perpendicular. Therefore, the triangle formed by the two centers and a point of intersection (P) is a right-angled triangle with the right angle at P. By the Pythagorean theorem, the square of the distance between the centers equals the sum of the squares of their radii: (C1C2)2=r12+r22(C_1C_2)^2 = r_1^2 + r_2^2. The distance squared between centers C1C_1 and C2C_2 is: (C1C2)2=(−g−(−g′))2+(−f−(−f′))2=(g′−g)2+(f′−f)2(C_1C_2)^2 = (-g - (-g'))^2 + (-f - (-f'))^2 = (g' - g)^2 + (f' - f)^2 =g′2−2gg′+g2+f′2−2ff′+f2= g'^2 - 2gg' + g^2 + f'^2 - 2ff' + f^2. The sum of the squares of the radii is: r12+r22=(g2+f2−c)+(g′2+f′2−c′)r_1^2 + r_2^2 = (g^2+f^2-c) + (g'^2+f'^2-c'). Equating these two expressions: g′2−2gg′+g2+f′2−2ff′+f2=g2+f2−c+g′2+f′2−c′g'^2 - 2gg' + g^2 + f'^2 - 2ff' + f^2 = g^2+f^2-c + g'^2+f'^2-c'. Cancelling terms g2,f2,g′2,f′2g^2, f^2, g'^2, f'^2 from both sides: −2gg′−2ff′=−c−c′-2gg' - 2ff' = -c - c'. Multiplying by −1-1, we get the condition for orthogonality: 2gg′+2ff′=c+c′2gg' + 2ff' = c + c'.

Options A, C, and D do not represent the correct condition for orthogonality. For example, Option A has a difference of constants, while Option C is missing the factor of 2.