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by a Curve
14.3
Introduction
One of the important applications of integration is to nd the area bounded by a curve. Often
such an area can have a physical signicance like the work done by a motor, or the distance
travelled by a vehicle. In this Block we explain how such an area is calculated.
Prerequisites
Before starting this Block you should . . .
Learning Outcomes
Learning Style
After completing this Block you should be able To achieve what is expected of you . . .
to . . .
nd the area bounded by a curve and the
x-axis
area is A(x)
It is clearly a function of x since as the upper limit changes so does the area. How does the area
change if we change the upper limit by a very small amount x? See the gure below.
y
y = f (x)
f (x)
area is A( x+x)
x + x
A( x)
A(x + x) A(x)
x
f (x) = lim
But this limit on the right-hand side is the derivative of A(x) with respect to x so
dA
dx
Thus A(x) is an indenite integral of f (x) and we can therefore write:
A(x) = f (x)dx
f (x) =
Now the area under the curve from a to b is clearly A(b)A(a). But remembering our shorthand
notation for this dierence, introduced in the last block we have, nally
b
b
f (x)dx
A(b) A(a) [A(x)]a =
a
We conclude that the area under the curve y = f (x) from a to b is given by the denite integral
of f (x) from a to b.
Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1
14.3: Integration
area required
y = f (x)
Key Point
when the curve lies entirely above the x-axis between a and b.
f (x) dx
Example Calculate the area bounded y = x1 and the x-axis, between x = 1 and x = 4.
Solution
Below is a graph of y = x1 . The area required is shaded; it lies entirely above the x-axis.
1
x
y=
area required
2
area
=
1
1
dx = [ln |x|]41
x
= ln 4 ln 1 = ln 4 = 1.386 (3dp)
y =sinx
area required
Answer
Answer
Example The gure shows the graphs of y = sin x and y = cos x for 0 x 12 . The
two graphs intersect at the point where x = 14 . Find the shaded area.
y
y =cos x
y =sinx
area required
Solution
To nd the shaded area we could calculate the area under the graph of y = sin x for x between
0 and 14 , and subtract this from the area under the graph of y = cos x between the same limits.
Alternatively the two processes can be combined into one and we can write
shaded area
/4
2
2
y
y =x2 +1
-2
-1
area required
2
3
x
(x + 1)dx = + x
3
3
1 3
2
1
=
+2 +1
3
3
7
4
= +1=
3
3
2
The evaluation of the area yields a negative quantity. There is no such thing as a negative area.
The area is actually 43 , and the negative sign is an indication that the area lies below the x-axis.
If an area contains parts both above and below the horizontal axis, care must be taken when
trying to calculate this area. It is necessary to determine which parts of the graph lie above the
horizontal axis and which lie below. Separate integrals need to be calculated for each piece of
the graph. This idea is illustrated in the next example.
Example Find the total area enclosed by the curve y = x3 5x2 + 4x and the x-axis
between x = 0 and x = 3.
Solution
We need to determine which parts of the graph, if any, lie above and which lie below the x-axis.
To do this it is helpful to consider where the graph cuts the x-axis. So we consider the function
x3 5x2 + 4x and look for its zeros
x3 5x2 + 4x = x(x2 5x + 4)
= x(x 1)(x 4)
So the graph cuts the x-axis when x = 0, x = 1 and x = 4. Also, when x is large and positive,
y is large and positive since the term involving x3 dominates. When x is large and negative, y
is large and negative for the same reason. With this information we can sketch a graph showing
the required area. If you have access to a graphics calculator or computer package this is a
trivial matter. The graph is shown below.
From the graph we see that the required area lies partly above the x-axis (when 0 x 1) and
partly below (when 1 x 3). So we evaluate the integral in two parts: Firstly:
x4 5x3 4x2
(x 5x + 4x)dx =
+
4
3
2
3
1
=
0
1 5
7
+ 2 (0) =
4 3
12
This is the part of the required area which lies above the x-axis.
Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 1
14.3: Integration
Solution
area required
Secondly:
3
x4 5x3 4x2
(x 5x + 4x)dx =
+
4
3
2 1
81 135
1 5
22
=
+ 18
+2 =
4
3
4 3
3
3
This represents the part of the required area which lies below the x-axis. The actual area is 22
.
3
Combining the results of the two separate calculations we can nd the total area bounded by
the curve:
7
22
95
area =
+
=
12
3
12
Now do this exercise
a) Sketch the graph of y = sin 2x for 0 x .
b) Find the total area bounded by the curve and the x-axis between x = 13 and x = 34 .
Sketch the graph and indicate the required area noting where the graph crosses the x-axis.
Perform the integration in two parts to obtain the required area.
Answer
10
0
11
area =
3
1
e2x dx =
e2x
2
3
1
= 198
12
1. 273,
2. 4,
3. 54,
4. 0.9.
13
/2
/3
1
sin 2xdx = and
4
3/4
/2
1
1 1
3
sin 2xdx = . The required area is + = .
2
4 2
4
14
1. 0.5
2. 0.4207
3. a)
16
,
3
b) 9, c)
4. 0.5
5. e2 1.
6.
1
2
15