JEE Main 2021
Conic Sections
Ellipse
Hard
Question
Let a tangent to the curve intersect the coordinate axes at the points A and B. Then, the minimum length of the line segment AB is ________
Answer: 9
Solution
Here's a detailed, step-by-step solution to the problem, designed to be clear, educational, and thorough.
1. Understanding the Problem and Key Concepts
The problem asks for the minimum length of a line segment AB, where A and B are the points where a tangent to a given ellipse intersects the coordinate axes. This involves several fundamental concepts from coordinate geometry:
- Standard Equation of an Ellipse: An ellipse centered at the origin is typically given by , where and are the lengths of the semi-major and semi-minor axes.
- **Parametric Form of an Ellipse