Help with linear algebra... find the circle passing through the following points...?

Question

Hi everyone!.... in class we're looking at gauss elimination method, matrices and everything that's related. My homework says:

Find the circle:

X^2 + Y^2 + aX + bY + c = 0

passing through the following points:

(1,1)^T , (5,-3)^T , (-3,-3)^T.

If you can explain me how to solve it or at least give me an idea... thank you!

Ami

Answer 1

Why did you put " ^T" with the points? They are not vectors. So put the 3 points into the circle equation...gives 3 equations in a & b& c..solve the system, either by hand { Gauss elimination } or using your calculator with matrices...a 3 x 4 system.....{ -2,6,-6}