Techniques of Differentiation - Derivatives of Natural Logarithmic Functions

The equation of a curve is \(y = \ln\left( \frac{3x - 7}{x + 1} \right)\).

1. Find, respectively, the equations of the tangent and the normal to the curve at the point where the curve crosses the \(x\)-axis.
2. Hence find the area of the triangle formed by the tangent and the normal to the curve at the above point and the \(y\)-axis.