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Circle Equation Calculator

Convert between the standard and general circle equations, or find a circle through 3 points, with center, radius, area and circumference.

About this tool

Work with the equation of a circle in three ways: convert center-radius form to general form, convert general form back to center-radius form, or find the unique circle passing through three points. All math is done in your browser.

The standard (center-radius) form (x − h)² + (y − k)² = r² relates to the general form x² + y² + Dx + Ey + F = 0 by D = −2h, E = −2k and F = h² + k² − r². Going the other way (completing the square) gives h = −D/2, k = −E/2 and r = √(h² + k² − F). For three points, the calculator solves the 3×3 linear system for D, E and F using Cramer's rule, then recovers the center and radius.

Every mode also reports the center (h, k), the radius r, the enclosed area πr² and the circumference 2πr. If the coefficients describe no real circle, or the three points are collinear, the input is flagged as invalid.

Frequently asked questions

How do the two equation forms relate?
Expanding (x − h)² + (y − k)² = r² gives x² + y² + Dx + Ey + F = 0 with D = −2h, E = −2k and F = h² + k² − r². Completing the square reverses it.
How is the circle through 3 points found?
Each point must satisfy x² + y² + Dx + Ey + F = 0, giving three linear equations in D, E and F that are solved with Cramer's rule.
Why is my general equation rejected?
If h² + k² − F is zero or negative there is no real circle (the radius would be zero or imaginary), so the input is marked invalid.
What if the three points lie on a line?
Collinear points do not define a circle, so the coefficient determinant is zero and the calculator reports the input as invalid.

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