(a)
Equation of tangent at $P({acos}{\theta,b\sin\theta)}$ is
$\frac{x}{a}\cos{\theta + \frac{y}{b}\sin{\theta = 1}}$
[image:11_image33.emf]
Whose point of intersection of axes are
$A\left( \frac{a}{\cos\theta},0 \right)\ and\ B\left( 0,\frac{b}{\sin\theta} \right)$
$\therefore Area\ of\ \mathrm{\Delta}AOB = \frac{1}{2}\ \left| \frac{a}{\cos\theta}.\frac{b}{\sin\theta} \right|$
$\mathrm{\Delta} = \frac{ab}{{|sin}{2\theta}|}$
Now area is minimum when $|\sin{2\theta|\ }$is maximum $ie,|\sin{2\theta| = 1}$
$\therefore\ \ \mathrm{\Delta}_{minimum} = ab$