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JEE Main 2021
Conic Sections
Ellipse
Hard

Question

Let a tangent to the curve 9x2+16y2=1449{x^2} + 16{y^2} = 144 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 x2a2+y2b2=1\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1, where aa and bb are the lengths of the semi-major and semi-minor axes.
  • **Parametric Form of an Ellipse

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