Concept understanding — Circle — Standard Equation and Properties
A circle is the locus of a point whose distance from a fixed centre is always the constant radius.
Standard form, centre (h,k), radius r: (x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2 (centre at the origin: x2+y2=r2). Expanding gives the general form
x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c=0,
with centre (−g,−f) and radius g2+f2−c. Any second-degree equation with equal, nonzero x2/y2 coefficients and no xy term is always a circle of this kind. The value g2+f2−c being >0, =0 or <0 gives a real circle, a single point, or no real locus at all.
Family of circles through a line–circle intersection (Theorem 5.1). For circle S=0 and line L=0, every circle through their intersection points is S+λL=0 for some λ∈R — a single extra condition (e.g. "the chord L is a diameter, so the centre lies on L") pins down λ.
Diameter form (Theorem 5.2). With diameter ends (x1,y1),(x2,y2): (x−x1)(x−x2)+(y−y1)(y−y2)=0 (from the semicircle right-angle property, ∠APB=90∘).
Position of a point (Theorem 5.3). Substituting (x1,y1) into x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c: the point is outside/on/inside according as the value is >0,=0,<0.
The normal always passes through the centre — the single fact behind most "normal to a circle" problems.
Tangency of y=mx+c to x2+y2=a2:c2=a2(1+m2), tangent y=mx±a1+m2, point of contact (∓1+m2am,±1+m2a).
Theorem 5.4. From any external point, exactly two tangents can be drawn (the slope-condition equation is a quadratic in m); from inside, both are imaginary; from on the circle, they coincide.
Tip
A circle problem almost always reduces to finding g,f,c (or h,k,r) from the given data, then reading off the required quantity — centre, radius, tangent, or normal — directly from the boxed formulas above. When a point is "one end of a diameter", the other end is the reflection of the given point through the centre: (2h−x1,2k−y1).
Two distinct intersection points ⟺ the perpendicular distance from the centre to the line is less than the radius.
✓Final answer
−35<m<15 — option (4).
Rewrite the circle in general form to get its centre and radius, then apply the standard 'line intersects circle at two points' condition: perpendicular distance from centre < radius.
Step 1. Standard form.x2+y2−4x−8y−5=0. Centre (2,4); radius =4+16+5=25=5.
Step 2. Perpendicular distance from (2,4) to 3x−4y−m=0.