The ellipse whose equation is x^2/a^2 + y^2/b^2 = 1 contains the circles whose equations are (x - 1)^2 + (y - 1)^2 = 1 and (x + 1)^2 + (y + 1)^2 = 1. Then the minimum area of the ellipse can be expressed in the form k*pi. Find k.
