Detect Circular Region in C# - Senior Secondary Maths Tutorial

Using the Circle Equation for Region Detection

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to detect a circular region in C# using the circle equation. The equation of a circle, (x - a)² + (y - b)² = r², defines all points (x, y) that are exactly r units away from the center (a, b). This formula helps determine whether a point or moving object lies inside or outside a circular region on an C# Windows Form. Understanding how to check whether a point or object lies inside a circle region is useful in C# geometry programming, especially for animations, canvas graphics, and collision detection.

Understanding the Circle Equation | Maths Explanation for C# Kids

As already explained extensively in the How to Draw and Animate a Circle in C# tutorial, the equation of a circle with centre (a, b) and radius (r) is: (x - a)² + (y - b)² = r² ;
It can be deduced that y = b ± √(r² - (x - a)²) ;
And conversely x = a ± √(r² - (y - b)²).

Hence, the boundaries of any circle lie in the range
b - √(r² - (x_external - a)²) ≤ y ≤ b + √(r² - (x_external - a)²)
and
a - √(r² - (y_external - b)²) ≤ x ≤ a + √(r² - (y_external - b)²)

In other words,
* If (x, y) satisfies this equation, the point lies on the circle.
* If (x - a)^2 + (y - b)^2 < r^2, the point is inside the circular region.
* If (x - a)^2 + (y - b)^2 > r^2, the point is outside the circle.

Algorithm to Detect Entrance into Circular Region in C#

To detect when a second shape enters the circle, we use its coordinates in the circle equation to check if they fall within the upper, lower, left, and right boundaries:
That is, whether the y position of the second body lies between the top and bottom limits of the circle boundary at the x position of the second body:
y_{2nd_img}(top) > b - √(r² - (x_{2nd_img} - a)²)
and y_{2nd_img}(bottom) < b + √(r² - (x_{2nd_img} - a)²) ;
And at the same time, whether the x position of the second body lies between the left and right limits of the circle boundary at the y position of the second body:
x_{2nd_img}(left) > a - √(r² - (y_{2nd_img} - b)²)
and x_{2nd_img}(right) < a + √(r² - (y_{2nd_img} - b)²)

Figure: C# circle region detection example on C# windows form

Create a new C# Windows Forms Application project ; call it Dymetric_CS.
Create 2 new C# classes;
Call them Dymetric and CircularRegion.
Type out the adjoining C# code for detecting the instance a travelling body crosses the boundary of a circle.

How the C# Circular Region Detection Code Works

The code compares the distance of a point from the circle's centre with the radius. If the distance is smaller than or equal to the radius, the point is inside the circular region.

🟢 A green point shows it's inside the circular region.
🔴 A red point shows it's outside.

The code above demonstrates C# circle collision detection, a common concept in canvas-based animations and game design. This example shows how maths meets programming - turning the circle equation into real-time C# geometry detection.

Key Takeaways on Circular Region Detection in C#

In this tutorial, you've learned that:

The circle equation defines a circular region mathematically.
With a few lines of C# code, you can detect whether a point is inside or outside the circle.
This principle links senior secondary maths and practical C# applications, preparing you for real-world coding projects.

With just a few lines of C#, you've been able to check when a point enters or leaves a circular boundary - a technique useful in games, animations, and simulations. The tutorial also features a C# canvas example that visualizes circle region detection in real time.

FAQs: Circle Equation and C#

What is a circular region in C#?

A circular region refers to the area within a circle defined by its radius on the C# windows form. In C#, you can detect whether a point or shape lies inside it using the circle equation.

How do you detect a circle boundary in C#?

You can calculate the distance between a point and the circle's center and compare it to the radius - if the distance is less than the radius, the point is inside the circle.

Can this be used for games or simulations?

Yes! Circle region detection is common in C# game development, collision detection, and animations.

Summary: Visualizing Circular Region in C#

In this lesson, you've learnt how to detect a circular region in C# using the circle equation from coordinate geometry: (x - a)² + (y - b)² = r².

This powerful formula helps determine whether a point or object is inside, on, or outside a circle. It connects senior secondary mathematics with C# geometry programming through step-by-step examples and code.

By combining mathematics and C# coding, you can easily detect when objects cross a circular boundary. This exercise strengthens your understanding of circle equations and introduces essential concepts in C# graphics programming.

So! C# Fun Practice Exercise - Detect Circular Region

As a fun practice exercise, try changing the values of (a), (b), (r), (x), and (y) to test different points and circle sizes. You can also extend this idea to moving body detection inside a circle, or collision detection in small games and interactive animations.

C# Circular Boundary Window Display Code Stub

Window Display Class Files

C# Circular Boundary Code for Dymetric Class

using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace Dymetric
{
    class Dymetric
    {
        private CircularRegion cycle_zone;
        private bool do_simulation;

        public Dymetric(int screen_width, int screen_height)
        {
            cycle_zone = new CircularRegion(screen_width, screen_height);
            do_simulation = false;
        }

        // decide what course of action to take
        public void decideAction(PaintEventArgs e, bool click_check)
        {
            if (do_simulation && click_check)
            {
                // do animation
                cycle_zone.inPlay(e);
                do_simulation = false;
            }
            else
            {
                // Put ball on screen
                cycle_zone.clearAndDraw(e);
                do_simulation = true;
            }
        }
    }
}

C# Animation Code for Circular Region Class

using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace Dymetric
{
    class CircularRegion
    {
        // square coordinates
        private int x_square, y_square, previous_x, previous_y;
        private const int squareLENGTH = 80;

        // circle variables
        private int a, b, r;
        private const int dotDIAMETER = 10;

        // we'll be drawing to and from a bitmap image
        private Bitmap offscreen_bitmap;
        Graphics offscreen_g;

        private Brush bg_colour;
        private Pen square_pen;

        public CircularRegion(int screen_width, int screen_height)
        {
            square_pen = new Pen(Color.Yellow);
            square_pen.Width = 5;
            bg_colour = new SolidBrush(Color.LightGray);

            // Create bitmap image
            offscreen_bitmap = new Bitmap(screen_width, screen_height - 55,
                System.Drawing.Imaging.PixelFormat.Format24bppRgb);

            // point graphic object to bitmap image
            offscreen_g = Graphics.FromImage(offscreen_bitmap);

            // Set background of bitmap graphic
            offscreen_g.Clear(Color.LightGray);

            previous_x = x_square = 10;
            previous_y = y_square = offscreen_bitmap.Height / 2 - squareLENGTH / 2;

            // circle centre coordinates
            a = offscreen_bitmap.Width / 2;
            b = offscreen_bitmap.Height / 2;
            // circle radius
            r = offscreen_bitmap.Height / 3;
        }

        // draw first appearance of square on the screen
        public void clearAndDraw(PaintEventArgs e)
        {
            /*
             * draw to offscreen bitmap
             */
            // draw a circle
            offscreen_g.DrawEllipse(Pens.Black, a - r, b - r, 2 * r, 2 * r);

            // clear previous square
            offscreen_g.FillRectangle(bg_colour, previous_x - 5, previous_y - 5, squareLENGTH + 10, squareLENGTH + 10);
            // draw square
            offscreen_g.DrawRectangle(square_pen, x_square, y_square, squareLENGTH, squareLENGTH);
            previous_x = x_square;
            previous_y = y_square;

            // draw to screen
            Graphics gr = e.Graphics;
            gr.DrawImage(offscreen_bitmap, 0, 55, offscreen_bitmap.Width, offscreen_bitmap.Height);
        }

        // repetitively clear and draw square on the screen - Simulate motion
        public void inPlay(PaintEventArgs e)
        {
            // condition for continuing motion
            while (x_square < offscreen_bitmap.Width - squareLENGTH)
            {
                int square_left = x_square;
                int square_right = x_square + squareLENGTH;
                int square_top = y_square;
                int square_bottom = y_square + squareLENGTH;
                // determinants for each side of the square
                int x_left_det = (int)Math.Round(Math.Sqrt(Math.Pow(r, 2) - Math.Pow((square_left - a), 2)));
                int x_right_det = (int)Math.Round(Math.Sqrt(Math.Pow(r, 2) - Math.Pow((square_right - a), 2)));
                int y_up_det = (int)Math.Round(Math.Sqrt(Math.Pow(r, 2) - Math.Pow((square_top - b), 2)));
                int y_down_det = (int)Math.Round(Math.Sqrt(Math.Pow(r, 2) - Math.Pow((square_bottom - b), 2)));

                // check the bounds of the circle
                square_pen.Dispose();
                // yellow outside the circle
                square_pen = new Pen(Color.Yellow);
                if (square_top > b - x_left_det && square_bottom < b + x_left_det
                        && square_top > b - x_right_det && square_bottom < b + x_right_det
                        && square_left > a - y_up_det && square_right < a + y_up_det
                        && square_left > a - y_down_det && square_right < a + y_down_det)
                {
                    // green inside the circle
                    square_pen = new Pen(Color.Green);
                }
                square_pen.Width = 5;

                // redraw square
                clearAndDraw(e);

                x_square += 10;
                // take a time pause
                Thread.Sleep(50);
            }
            x_square = 10;
            y_square = offscreen_bitmap.Height / 2 - squareLENGTH / 2;
        }
    }
}

I have a better version / See other versions.