Example 1 What is the maximum number of rational points (points with both coordinates being rational numbers) that can lie on a circle in the plane, given that the center of the circle is not a rational point.
Solution
【Analysis】If are three rational points on a circle,
then the midpoint of is a rational point, the slope of is a rational number or infinite, so the equation of the perpendicular bisector of is a linear equation with rational coefficients. Similarly, the equation of the perpendicular bisector of is also a linear equation with rational coefficients. Therefore, the intersection of the perpendicular bisector of and the perpendicular bisector of is a rational point, i.e., the center of the circle is a rational point, which does not meet the condition.
Two examples of rational points: and , the center of the circle is , which satisfies the condition.
Therefore, at most two rational points can exist on a circle such that the center of the circle is not a rational point.