Looking for a little time alone, Michael takes a jog at along the beach. The crashing of waves reminds him of the hydroelectric plant his father helped maintain before the family moved to Jupiter Falls. Michael was in elementary school at the time. He thinks about whether he wants to study engineering in college, like both his parents did, or pursue an education in business. His aunt Jessica studied business and appraises budding technology companies for a venture capital firm. Other possibilities also tug a little at Michael for different reasons. Michael stops and watches a group of girls who seem to be around Tony's age play a game around an ellipse drawn in the sand. There are two softball bats stuck in the sand. Michael recognizes these as the foci of the ellipse. The bats are $24$ feet apart. Two children stand on opposite ends of the ellipse where the ellipse intersects the line on which the bats lie. These two children are $40$ feet apart. Five other children stand on different points of the ellipse. One of them blows a whistle and all seven children run screaming toward one bat or the other. Each child runs as fast as she can, touching one bat, then the next, and finally returning to the spot on which she started. When the first girl gets back to her place, she declares, "I win this time! I win!" Another of the girls pats her on the back, and the winning girl speaks again. "This time I found the place where I'd have to run the shortest distance." Michael thinks for a moment, draws some notes in the sand, then computes the shortest possible distance one of the girls could run from her starting point on the ellipse, to one of the bats, to the other bat, then back to her starting point. He smiles for a moment, then keeps jogging. If Michael's work is correct, what distance did he compute as the shortest possible distance one of the girls could run during the game?

In rectangular coordinate system, if $m(x^2+y^2+2y+1)=(x-2y+3)^2$ refers to an ellipse, then the range value of $m$ is $\text{(A)}(0,1)\qquad\text{(B)}(1,+\infty)\qquad\text{(C)}(0,5)\qquad\text{(D)}(5,+\infty)$

Let the major axis of an ellipse be $AB$, let $O$ be its center, and let $F$ be one of its foci. $P$ is a point on the ellipse, and $CD$ a chord through $O$, such that $CD$ is parallel to the tangent of the ellipse at $P$. $PF$ and $CD$ intersect at $Q$. Compare the lengths of $PQ$ and $OA$.

An ellipse has foci at $(9,20)$ and $(49,55)$ in the $xy$-plane and is tangent to the $x$-axis. What is the length of its major axis?

Suppose points $F_1, F_2$ are the left and right foci of the ellipse $\frac{x^2}{16}+\frac{y^2}{4}=1$ respectively, and point $P$ is on line $l:$, $x-\sqrt{3} y+8+2\sqrt{3}=0$. Find the value of ratio $\frac{|PF_1|}{|PF_2|}$ when $\angle F_1PF_2$ reaches its maximum value.

Calculate the area of the intersection of the interior of the ellipse $\frac{x^2}{16}+ \frac{y^2}{4}= 1$ with the circle bounded by the circumference $(x -2)^2 + (y - 1)^2 = 5$.

Let $B$ and $C$ be two fixed points on a circle centered at $O$ that are not diametrically opposed. Let $A$ be a variable point on the circle distinct from $B$ and $C$ and not belonging to the perpendicular bisector of $BC$. Let $H$ be the orthocenter of $\triangle ABC$, and $M$ and $N$ be the midpoints of the segments $BC$ and $AH$, respectively. The line $AM$ intersects the circle again at $D$, and finally, $NM$ and $OD$ intersect at $P$. Determine the locus of points $P$ as $A$ moves around the circle.

Two congruent triangles are inscribed in an ellipse. Are they necessarily symmetric with respect to an axis or the center of the ellipse?

In triangle $ABC$ let the $A$-foot be $E$ and the $B$-excenter be $L$. Suppose the incircle of $ABC$ is tangent to $AC$ at $I$. Construct a hyperbola $\mathcal H$ through $A$ with $B$ and $C$ as the foci such that $A$ lies on the branch of the $\mathcal H$ closer to $C$. Construct an ellipse $\mathcal E$ passing through $I$ with $B$ and $C$ as the foci. Suppose $\mathcal E$ meets $\overline{AB}$ again at point $H$. Let $\overline{CH}$ and $\overline{BI}$ intersect the $C$-branch of $\mathcal H$ at points $M$ and $O$ respectively. Prove $E$, $L$, $M$, $O$ are concyclic. Proposed by [i]Alex Wang[/i]

Let $ABC$ be a triangle, and let $D$ be a point on the internal angle bisector of $BAC$. Let $x$ be the ellipse with foci $B$ and $C$ passing through $D$, $y$ be the ellipse with foci $A$ and $C$ passing through $D$, and $z$ be the ellipse with foci $A$ and $B$ passing through $D$. Ellipses $x$ and $z$ intersect at distinct points $D$ and $E$, and ellipses $x$ and $y$ intersect at distinct points $D$ and $F$. Prove that $AD$ bisects angle $EAF$. [i]Andrew Carratu[/i]

Let $C$ be the left vertex of the ellipse $\frac{x^2}8+\frac{y^2}4 = 1$ in the Cartesian Plane. For some real number $k$, the line $y=kx+1$ meets the ellipse at two distinct points $A, B$. (i) Compute the maximum of $|CA|+|CB|$. (ii) Let the line $y=kx+1$ meet the $x$ and $y$ axes at $M$ and $N$, respectively. If the intersection of the perpendicular bisector of $MN$ and the circle with diameter $MN$ lies inside the given ellipse, compute the range of possible values of $k$. [i](Source: China National High School Mathematics League 2021, Zhejiang Province, Problem 12)[/i]

What is the area of the region defined by $x^2+3y^2 \le 4$ and $y^2+3x^2 \le 4$?