Applications of Integration - Lecture 6

M AGAGULA V USI

MAT 211 - C ALCULUS I

U NIVERSITY OF S WAZILAND
D EPARTMENT OF M ATHEMATICS

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Objective
Use definite integrals to calculate the area between two curves

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Objective
Use definite integrals to calculate the area between two curves

Geometrical interpretation
Recall that there is an interpretation of the definite integral as the area
under the curve y = f (x). In fact, the Riemann sum is an
approximation of this area.

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Objective
Use definite integrals to calculate the area between two curves

Geometrical interpretation
Recall that there is an interpretation of the definite integral as the area
under the curve y = f (x). In fact, the Riemann sum is an
approximation of this area.

Positive function
Suppose f (x) ≥ 0 on [a, b]. We can write the area under the graph of
y = f (x) and above y = 0 in between x = a and x = b as
Z b
Area = [f (x) − 0]dx
a

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

y = f (x)

x =b
x =a

a y =0 b

Figure: The integral is the area between the graph of the function, the lines
x = a, x = b and y = 0.

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

The area between two functions

The area A of the region bounded by the curves y = f (x), y = g(x),
and the lines x = a, x = b, where f and g are continuous and
f (x) ≥ g(x) for all x ∈ [a, b], is
Z b
A= [f (x) − g(x)]dx.
a

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

The area between two functions

The area A of the region bounded by the curves y = f (x), y = g(x),
and the lines x = a, x = b, where f and g are continuous and
f (x) ≥ g(x) for all x ∈ [a, b], is
Z b
A= [f (x) − g(x)]dx.
a

Note
In the case where both f and g are positive you can see easily why this
is true:

A = [are under y = f (x)] − [area under y = g(x)] =

Z b Z b Z b
= f (x)dx − g(x)dx = [f (x) − g(x)]dx
a a a

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Example 1
Find the area of the region bounded above by y = x 2 + 1, bounded
below by y = x, and bounded on the sides by x = 0 and x = 1.

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Example 1
Find the area of the region bounded above by y = x 2 + 1, bounded
below by y = x, and bounded on the sides by x = 0 and x = 1.

Solution
2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Z 1
5
Area = [(x 2 + 1) − x] dx = · · · =
0 6

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Example 2
Find the area of the region S = {(x, y )| 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, x 2 ≤ y ≤ x}. What
if 0 ≤ x ≤ 2?

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Example 2
Find the area of the region S = {(x, y )| 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, x 2 ≤ y ≤ x}. What
if 0 ≤ x ≤ 2?

Solution
4

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

When 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, x 2 ≤ x, but for 1 ≤ x ≤ 2, x ≤ x 2 . Recall,

Z 2 Z 1 Z 2
f (x)dx = f (x) + f (x)dx.
0 0 1

Thus,
Z 1 Z 2
Area = [x − x 2 ]dx + [x 2 − x]dx
0 1
Z 2
= |x − x 2 |dx
0

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Area between two curves

In general , the area between the curves y = f (x) and y = g(x) and
between x = a and x = b is
Z b
A= |f (x) − g(x)|dx.
a

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Area between two curves

In general , the area between the curves y = f (x) and y = g(x) and
between x = a and x = b is
Z b
A= |f (x) − g(x)|dx.
a

Methodology
If we are asked to find the area between the curves y = f (x) and
y = g(x) where either we don’t know their graphs or f (x) ≥ g(x) for
some values of x but f (x) ≤ g(x) for other values of x, then we
compute the:
Z b
|f (x) − g(x)|dx.
a
We find the intervals where the function f − g is positive or negative
and then we split the region into several regions.

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Methodology
This can be done by following the following the steps:
1 If it is possible graph the functions
2 Determine the points of intersection, i.e. solve the equation
f (x) = g(x)
3 Solve the inequalities f (x) ≥ g(x) and f (x) ≤ g(x)
4 Set up and evaluate the integral

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area of the region bounded by the curves y = sin x,

y = cos x, x = 0, and x = π/2

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area of the region bounded by the curves y = sin x,

y = cos x, x = 0, and x = π/2
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.
1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5 1.0 1.5

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area of the region bounded by the curves y = sin x,

y = cos x, x = 0, and x = π/2
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.
1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5 1.0 1.5

2 Determine the points of intersection: sin x = cos x in [0, π/2] if

x = π/4.

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area of the region bounded by the curves y = sin x,

y = cos x, x = 0, and x = π/2
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.
1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5 1.0 1.5

2 Determine the points of intersection: sin x = cos x in [0, π/2] if

x = π/4.
3 Solve the inequalities: Note that cos x ≥ sin x when
0 ≤ x ≤ π/4 and sin x ≥ cos x when π/4 ≥ x ≥ π/2.

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area of the region bounded by the curves y = sin x,

y = cos x, x = 0, and x = π/2
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.
1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5 1.0 1.5

2 Determine the points of intersection: sin x = cos x in [0, π/2] if

x = π/4.
3 Solve the inequalities: Note that cos x ≥ sin x when
0 ≤ x ≤ π/4 and sin x ≥ cos x when π/4 ≥ x ≥ π/2.
4 Set up and evaluate the integral

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area of the region bounded by the curves y = sin x,

y = cos x, x = 0, and x = π/2
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.
1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5 1.0 1.5

2 Determine the points of intersection: sin x = cos x in [0, π/2] if

x = π/4.
3 Solve the inequalities: Note that cos x ≥ sin x when
0 ≤ x ≤ π/4 and sin x ≥ cos x when π/4 ≥ x ≥ π/2.
4 Set up and evaluate the integral
Z π/2
A = | cos x − sin x|dx = A1 + A2
0
Z π/4 Z π/2
= (cos x − sin x)dx + (sin x − cos x)dx
0 π/4
π/4 π/2
= [cos x − sin x]0 + [− cos x − sin x]π/4
√
= 2 2−2
M AGAGULA V USI Applications
 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Rotating axis
1 Some regions are best treated by regarding x as a function of y.

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Rotating axis
1 Some regions are best treated by regarding x as a function of y.
2 If a region is bounded by curves with equations x = f (y),
x = g(y ), y = c, and y = d, where f and g are continuous and
f (y) ≥ g(y) for c ≤ y ≤ d, then its area is
Z d
A= [f (y) − g(y)] dy
c
Z d
A= xR − xL dy
c

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Rotating axis
1 Some regions are best treated by regarding x as a function of y.
2 If a region is bounded by curves with equations x = f (y),
x = g(y ), y = c, and y = d, where f and g are continuous and
f (y) ≥ g(y) for c ≤ y ≤ d, then its area is
Z d
A= [f (y) − g(y)] dy
c
Z d
A= xR − xL dy
c

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area enclose by the line y = x − 1 and the parabola

y 2 = 2x + 6

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area enclose by the line y = x − 1 and the parabola

y 2 = 2x + 6
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area enclose by the line y = x − 1 and the parabola

y 2 = 2x + 6
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.

2 Determine the points of intersection: (−1, −2) and (5, 4)

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area enclose by the line y = x − 1 and the parabola

y 2 = 2x + 6
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.

2 Determine the points of intersection: (−1, −2) and (5, 4)

3 Determine xL and xR : xL = 12 y 2 − 3 and xR = y + 1

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area enclose by the line y = x − 1 and the parabola

y 2 = 2x + 6
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.

2 Determine the points of intersection: (−1, −2) and (5, 4)

3 Determine xL and xR : xL = 12 y 2 − 3 and xR = y + 1
4 Integrate between appropriate y-values: −2 ≤ y ≤ 4

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Lecture 6 Areas Between Curves

Find the area enclose by the line y = x − 1 and the parabola

y 2 = 2x + 6
1 Sketch the region bounded by the curves.

2 Determine the points of intersection: (−1, −2) and (5, 4)

3 Determine xL and xR : xL = 12 y 2 − 3 and xR = y + 1
4 Integrate between appropriate y-values: −2 ≤ y ≤ 4

Z 4 Z 4  
1
A = (y + 1) − ( y 2 − 3) dy
(xR − xL )dy =
−2 −2 2
Z 4   3 2 4
1 1 y y
= (− y 2 + y + 4)dy = − + 4y = 18
−2 2 2 3 2 −2

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Summary

Summary

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Summary

Summary
1 The area A of the region bounded by the curves y = f (x),
y = g(x), and the lines x = a, x = b, where f and g are
continuous and f (x) ≥ g(x) for all x ∈ [a, b], is
Z b
A= [f (x) − g(x)]dx (1)
a

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Summary

Summary
1 The area A of the region bounded by the curves y = f (x),
y = g(x), and the lines x = a, x = b, where f and g are
continuous and f (x) ≥ g(x) for all x ∈ [a, b], is
Z b
A= [f (x) − g(x)]dx (1)
a

2 The area between the curves y = f (x) and y = g(x) and between
x = a and x = b is
Z b
A= |f (x) − g(x)|dx (2)
a

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Summary

Summary
1 The area A of the region bounded by the curves y = f (x),
y = g(x), and the lines x = a, x = b, where f and g are
continuous and f (x) ≥ g(x) for all x ∈ [a, b], is
Z b
A= [f (x) − g(x)]dx (1)
a

2 The area between the curves y = f (x) and y = g(x) and between
x = a and x = b is
Z b
A= |f (x) − g(x)|dx (2)
a

3 If a region is bounded by curves with equations x = f (y),

x = g(y ), y = c, and y = d, where f and g are continuous and
f (y) ≥ g(y) for c ≤ y ≤ d, then its area is
Z d Z d
A= [f (y) − g(y)] dy == xR − xL dy (3)
c c

M AGAGULA V USI Applications

 Exercises

Exercises
1 Sketch the region enclosed by the given curves and find it’s area.
(a) y = 12 − x 2 , y = x 2 − 6
(b) 2y 2 = 2
√ x, 4 + y =√x
(c) y = 1 − x, y = 1 + x
(d) y = sec2 (x), y = 8 cos(x), −π/3 ≤ x ≤ π/3
(e) y = cos(πx), y = 4x 2 − 1
(f) y = cos(x), y = sin(2x), 0 ≤ x ≤ π/2
2 The curve with equation

y 2 = x 2 (x + 3)

is called Tschirnhausen’s cubic. If you graph this curve you will

see that part of the curve forms a loop. Find the area enclosed
by the loop.
3 Find the number b such that the line y = b divides the region
bounded by the curves y = x 2 and y = 4 into two regions with
equal area.
M AGAGULA V USI Applications