Post this again, since I made a pig's ear of it the first time.

At P construct normal PQ, what in general is the minimum value of PQ?

Question

Post this again, since I made a pig's ear of it the  first time.

At P construct normal PQ, what in general is the minimum value of PQ?

anonymous · Answer

attachment

anonymous · Answer

Does the shape fixed? For example, if the shape is convex, I guess the answer is the curvature at P.

anonymous · Answer

The shape is a fixed ellipse.

Now try drawing normals (perpendiculars to the curve) at various points around the ellipse and u see that the length of PQ varies.

Question is minimum length of PQ?

anonymous · Answer

interesting question, makes me remember the coordinate geometry of high school. Let me try to remember the equation of a normal at a point :)