I have been wondering about this one

Algebra is a bit messy so needs checking, (and gaps filling in !).

 Result agrees with Melody's though.

The point P can be taken to have co-ordinates $\displaystyle (\frac{t^{2}}{2},t)$.

( Parametric equations for the parabola can be $\displaystyle x=t^{2}/2, y=t.$ )

Suppose that y = ax + b is the equation of a line passing through this point, then   $\displaystyle t=a\frac{t^{2}}{2}+b,$

so

$\displaystyle y=ax+t-a\frac{t^{2}}{2}.$   ................................................(1)

This cuts the circle $\displaystyle x^{2}+y^{2}-2x=0$ at points with x co-ordinates given by (simplified eq),

$\displaystyle x^{2}(1+a^{2})+x(2at-a^{2}t^{2}-2)+t^{2}+\frac{a^{2}t^{4}}{4}-at^{3}=0.$

This needs to have equal roots if the contact with the circle is to be tangential, so

$\displaystyle (2at - a^{2}t^{2}-2)^{2}-4(1+a^{2})(t^{2}+\frac{a^{2}t^{4}}{4}-a{t^3})=0,$

or,

$\displaystyle a^{2}(4t^{2}-t^{4})+a(4t^{3}-8t)+4-4t^{2}=0.$

That gives us two values for a, (for the two lines from P to the circle).

Solving for a,

$\displaystyle a_{1}=\frac{2(2+t-t^{2})}{t(4-t^{2})},\quad a_{2}=\frac{2(2-t-t^{2})}{t(4-t^{2})}.$

Looking back at (1), the tangents will have intercepts with the y-axis at      $\displaystyle t-a_{1}\frac{t^{2}}{2}\quad \text{ and }\quad t-a_{2}\frac{t^{2}}{2},$

meaning that the base of the triangle PBC (the line between B and C along the y-axis), will have length  

$\displaystyle (a_{1}-a_{2})\frac{t^{2}}{2}=\frac{2t^{2}}{4-t^{2}}, \\ \text{and the area of the triangle}$

(base times height divided by 2),

$\displaystyle \frac{2t^{2}}{4-t^{2}}.\frac{t^{2}}{2}.\frac{1}{2}=\frac{t^{4}}{2(4-t^{2})}.$

(The denominator could be t^2 - 4, depending on whether t is less than or greater than 2)

Differentiating that in order to find max/min produces $\displaystyle t=\pm\sqrt{8},$

and an area

$\displaystyle \mid\frac{64}{2(4-8)}\mid=8.$

I'll paste this problem in and maybe you look at the problem above?

Let P be a variable point on the parabola y^2=2x and Let B and C be points on the y-axis so that the circle (x-1)^2+y^2=1 is inscribed in triangle PBC. Find the minimum area of triangle PBC.

👍 

What do you mean 

Thanks Tiggsy,

That is great.

I will take a proper look a little later.