Area Between Curves

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Area between curves
Consider the region S Partition [a,b] into Area of S is roughly
bounded by the graphs n subintervals of equal the sum of the areas
of y = f(x), y = g(x) and width: of the rectangles:
the lines x = a and x = b. x
n 1
f ( x)  g ( x) Create corresponding
rectangles using, for
A   f ( x )  g ( x ) x
i i
i0
The graphs of f and g instance, the left end
are continuous on [a, b]. points.

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Area Between Curves
As n increases, the approximation becomes better and better, thus we can define the
area of S as:
n 1
b
A lim   f ( x i )  g ( x i )   x
n
   f ( x )  g ( x )  dx
a
i0

NOTES:
The graph of f must lie above the graph of g on the interval [a, b].

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Area Between Curves Example 1
Find the area of the region enclosed by the following curves:
y   x  10 x  9, y  x  6x  5
2 2

Find intersection points:

 x  10 x  9  x  6 x  5
2 2

0  2 x  16 x  14
2

0  x  8x  7
2

0   x  7   x  1

Set up and evaluate the integral:

  x 
 10 x  9   ( x  6 x  5) dx
7

2 2

  2 x  16 x  14  dx
7

2

2 7
 x  8 x  14 x
3 2

3 1
 72
Copyright ASU 7/18/2012
 Area Between Curves Example 2
Find the area of the region enclosed by the following curves:
y   x  10 x  9, y  x  6 x  5, x  0, x  8
2 2

Before you start, do you see where the enclosed

region may be broken into 3 regions?
Look for regions where the upper and lower
functions differ!
Ask yourself where (values in the domain)
would the 3 regions be located?
Answer: There are 3 integrals that may be
constructed:

 2 x  16 x  14  dx    2 x  16 x  14  dx 
1 7

  2x  16 x  14  dx
2 2 8

0 1
2
 8 5 .3
7

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Area Between Curves Example 3
Find the area of the region enclosed by the following curves:
1
y  3, y  ln  2 x  , x 
2
Find intersection point:
3
3 e
ln  2 x   3  e  2x  x 
2

Set up and evaluate the integral:

e 3 /2 e3 / 2 e3 / 2
 1/2  3  ln  2 x   dx   1/ 2 3 dx   1/ 2 ln  2 x  dx
e3 / 2
ln  2 x  dx
3

 3 x 1/ 2  
e /2

1/ 2

e /2 3

 
3
3 3
e  1   x ln(2 x )  x 
e
  2
2 1/ 2 2

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Area between curves
If the equations are of the form x =f(y), x = g(y), it is more convenient to take
horizontal rectangles:

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 g ( y )  f ( y ) for c  y  d then its area is
n 1
d
A lim   g ( y i ) 
n 
f ( yi )   y    g( y) 
c
f ( y )  dy
i0

NOTES: The graph of g must lie to the right of the

graph of f for c  y  d

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012

 Area between curves Example 4
Find the area of the region enclosed by the following curves:

x  5y , x  y  4
2

Find points of intersection:

5y  4  y
2

5y  y  4  0
2

 5 y  4   y  1  0

Set up and evaluate the integral:

  (4  y )  5 y  dy
4 /5
243
 2
  4 .8 6
1
50

Copyright ASU 7/18/2012