Q.Find the values of $a$ and $b$ if the equation $(a-1)x^2+by^2+(b-8)xy+4x+4y-1=0$ represents a circle.

Match the centre $\left(-\tfrac a2,-\tfrac b2\right)=(1,-2)$ to get $a=-2,\ b=4$, then radius $=\sqrt{1+4+4}=3$.

Compare with the general circle $x^2+y^2+2gx+2fy+c=0$ whose centre is $(-g,-f)$ and radius $\sqrt{g^2+f^2-c}$. Here $2g=a$ and $2f=b$, so the centre is $\left(-\tfrac a2,-\tfrac b2\right)$.

Given centre $(1,-2)$:

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Tangency to the x-axis and y-axis both require the center's distance to each axis to equal the radius (1); only the circle centered at $(-1,-1)$ satisfies both.

A circle with center $(h,k)$ and radius $r$ is tangent to the x-axis when $|k|=r$, and tangent to the y-axis when $|h|=r$. Here $r=1$, so we need $|h|=1$ and $|k|=1$, i.e. center at $(\pm1,\pm1)$.

1. $(x+1)^2+(y+1)^2=1$: center $(-1,-1)$, distances to both axes $=1=r$. Tangent to both. Valid.
2. $x^2+(y-1)^2=1$: center $(0,1)$, distance to y-axis $=0\ne1$ — the circle crosses the y-axis, not tangent. Invalid. …