Engineering Mathematics

Dr M.D. Mhlongo

Area between two curves

08 July 2019

Dr Mhlongo (University of KwaZulu-Natal) Math 141 08 July 2019 1/8

 Area between two curves

Chapter Outline

1 First Area Problem

2 Area Formula
3 Example 1
4 Reversing the roles of x and y
5 Example 2
6 Exercise

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 Area between two curves

Area between y = f (x) and y = g (x)

First area problem
If f and g are continuous functions of x on [a,b] and f (x) ≥ g (x) then the
area of the region bounded by the two curves and the lines x = a, x = b is
Z b
A= [f (x) − g (x)]dx (1)
a

Figure: Area between two curves

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 Area between two curves

Example 1
√
Example 1: Find the area between f (x) = x and g (x) = x 2

√
Figure: Area between f (x) = x and g (x) = x 2

Z b
1 Formula A = [f (x) − g (x)]dx
a √
2 To calculate a and b, we solve x 2 = x to get x = 0 and x = 1.
Z 1
√
3 The area is then calculated using A = [ x − x 2 ]dx
0
1
2 3 x3

2 1 1
4 Finally A = x2 − = − =
3 3 0 3 3 3
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 Reversing the roles of x and y

Area between x = f (y ) and x = g (y )

Second area problem
If f and g are continuous functions of y on [c,d] and f (y ) ≥ g (y ) then the
area of the region bounded by the two curves and the lines y = c, y = d is
Z d
A= [f (y ) − g (y )]dy (2)
c

Figure: Area between two curves

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 Area between two curves

Example 2
Example 2: Find the area between y 2 = 4x and y = 2x − 4, −2 ≤ y ≤ 4.

√
Figure: Area between f (x) = x and g (x) = x 2

Z 4  
y 1 2
1 The area is then calculated using A = + 2 − y dy
−2 2 4
 2 4
y y3
2 Finally A = + 2y − =9
4 12 −2
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 Exercise

Exercise 6.1

1) Sketch the region enclosed by the curves and find its area
a) x = y1 , x = 0, y = 1, y = e
b) y = 2 + |x − 1|, y = − 15 x + 7
c) y = x, y = 4x, y = −x + 2
2) Sketch the region enclosed by the curves and find its area
a) y = x 3 − 2x 2 , y = 2x 2 − 3x
b) y = sin x, y = cos x, x = 0, x = 2π
c) x = y 3 − 4y 2 + 3y , x = y 2 − y
2
d) y = xe x , y = 2|x|
e) y = √ 1 2
, y = x3
x 1−(ln x)

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 Thank you

Thank you.

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