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# Ellipses

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An ellipse with equation $$\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1$$
contains the circles $$(x - 1)^2 + y^2 = 1$$ and $$(x + 1)^2 +y^2 = 1.$$ Then the smallest possible area of the ellipse can be expressed in the form $$k\pi$$. Find $$k$$.

Any help is appreciated!

P.S. Answer is not $$2\sqrt2$$

#7
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Here's my attempt at an analytical answer:

I should have written: This is the value of k at the minimum area.  The minimum area itself is $$k\pi$$

I've just noticed something went wrong with the display of equation (3)! It should be $$xp = \frac{a^2}{a^2-b^2}$$

Dec 6, 2021
edited by Alan  Dec 6, 2021
edited by Alan  Dec 7, 2021

#1
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Have you graphed this with desmos?

I suggest you do so and attach a link to the graph.  It is always a good starting point.

Dec 3, 2021
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Yes, I have. Here is the graph:

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/ta4yzr1osd

#3
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I haven't done it yet and I always have to look up the 'rules' when I am dealing with ellipses

but it is pretty clear that the focii are (-1,0) and (1,0)

I'd take it from there.  I might do it later.

Dec 4, 2021
edited by Melody  Dec 4, 2021
#4
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First of all, thank you!

But how do you know the foci must be at (-1,0) and (1,0)? Why does this minimize the area...

edited by abcdefghijklmnopqrst  Dec 5, 2021
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Actually, you are right.   I don't know that.  I can see it is close to that but it may not be exact ....

Thanks for picking that up.   I 'll think about it a bit more ...

Melody  Dec 5, 2021
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Here is a much better graph.   Unfortunately, the answer still alludes me.

https://www.geogebra.org/classic/gcr4sdt4

And here is an ellipse formula page

Dec 6, 2021
#7
+32985
+5

Here's my attempt at an analytical answer:

I should have written: This is the value of k at the minimum area.  The minimum area itself is $$k\pi$$

I've just noticed something went wrong with the display of equation (3)! It should be $$xp = \frac{a^2}{a^2-b^2}$$

Alan Dec 6, 2021
edited by Alan  Dec 6, 2021
edited by Alan  Dec 7, 2021
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Thanks Alan,

That will give me something to chew on.

Melody  Dec 6, 2021
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It's right!!!! Here is the solution provided on the website:

We can assume that the ellipse is tangent to the circle $$(x - 1)^2 + y^2 = 1.$$ From this equation, $$y^2 = 1 - (x - 1)^2.$$ Substituting into the equation of the ellipse, we get $$\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{1 - (x - 1)^2}{b^2} = 1.$$ This simplifies to $$(a^2 - b^2) x^2 - 2a^2 x + a^2 b^2 = 0.$$
By symmetry, the $$x$$-coordinates of both tangent points will be equal, so the discriminant of this quadratic will be 0: $$(2a^2)^2 - 4(a^2 - b^2)(a^2 b^2) = 0.$$
This simplifies to $$a^4 b^2 = a^4 + a^2 b^4.$$ We can divide both sides by $$a^2$$ to get $$a^2 b^2 = a^2 + b^4.$$ Then $$a^2 = \frac{b^4}{b^2 - 1}.$$
The area of the ellipse is $$\pi ab$$ Minimizing this is equivalent to minimizing $$ab$$, which in turn is equivalent to minimizing $$a^2 b^2 = \frac{b^6}{b^2 - 1}.$$
Let $$t=b^2$$, so $$\frac{b^6}{b^2 - 1} = \frac{t^3}{t - 1}.$$
Then let $$u=t-1.$$ Then $$t=u+1,$$ so $$\frac{t^3}{t - 1} = \frac{(u + 1)^3}{u} = u^2 + 3u + 3 + \frac{1}{u}.$$
By AM-GM,

\begin{align*} u^2 + 3u + \frac{1}{u} &= u^2 + \frac{u}{2} + \frac{u}{2} + \frac{u}{2} + \frac{u}{2} + \frac{u}{2} + \frac{u}{2} + \frac{1}{8u} + \frac{1}{8u} + \frac{1}{8u} + \frac{1}{8u} + \frac{1}{8u} + \frac{1}{8u} + \frac{1}{8u} + \frac{1}{8u} \\ &\ge 15 \sqrt[15]{u^2 \cdot \frac{u^6}{2^6} \cdot \frac{1}{8^8 u^8}} = \frac{15}{4}. \end{align*}
Equality occurs when $$u=\frac{1}{2}$$ For this value of $$u, t=\frac{3}{2}, b=\sqrt{\frac{3}{2}}=\frac{\sqrt{6}}{2},$$ and $$a=\frac{3\sqrt2}{2}.$$

Hence, $$k = ab = \boxed{\frac{3 \sqrt{3}}{2}}.$$

Whew! that took some time to format lol

edited by abcdefghijklmnopqrst  Dec 7, 2021
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You seem amazed that Alan derived the correct solution.  He usually does. You’ll get used to it, if you stay around for awhile.

What really should amaze you is the massive and diverse amount of non-calculus math that Alan’s calculus solution replaces.

For relatively complex questions, the official solutions presented by AoPS professors often and usually consists of extended trigonometric functions, and/or finite and infinite arithmetic and geometric sequences, and/or elaborate generating functions, connected together using linear and non-linear algebra techniques.

Sometimes these methods are the only way to solve a problem. But if there is a calculus solution, learning these (laborious) methods will greatly enhance your understanding and appreciation of what the calculus is actually doing.

GA

--. .-

GingerAle  Dec 7, 2021
edited by GingerAle  Dec 7, 2021