Area under a curve

For the curve 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙):The area bounded by the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), the 𝑥 axis and the
ordinates 𝑥 = 𝑎, 𝑥 = 𝑏 is given by
𝑏

𝐴= 𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
For the curve 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚):The area bounded by the curve 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑦), the 𝑦 axis and the
abscissae 𝑦 = 𝑐, 𝑦 = 𝑑 is given by
𝑑

𝐴= 𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝑐
For the curves 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒚 = 𝒈(𝒙):The area bounded by the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and
𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) above the 𝑥 axis is given by
𝑏

𝐴= (𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
Where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are the abscissae of the points of intersection of the curves.
For the curves 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚) and 𝒙 = 𝒈(𝒚):The area bounded by the curve 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑦) and
𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑦) above the 𝑦 axis is given by
𝑑

𝐴= (𝑓 𝑦 − 𝑔(𝑦)) 𝑑𝑦
𝑐
Where 𝑐 and 𝑑 are the ordinates of the points of intersection of the curves.

1. Find the area bounded by the parabola𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥 and its latus rectum.
Solution: The latus rectum of the parabola passes through the focus (𝑎,0) and the vertex
of the parabola is (0,0). Hence the concerned area is bounded by 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥, the abscissae
𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 𝑎 about the 𝑥 axis.

𝑂(0,0) 𝑆(𝑎, 0) 𝑋

We can have
𝑦 = 4𝑎𝑥 = 2 𝑎 𝑥
𝑎 = 0,𝑏 = 𝑎
Then
𝑏

𝐴= 𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
Since the parabola is symmetric about the 𝑥 axis
 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
1/2
𝑥 3/2 8 𝑎 3/2 8 𝑎
𝐴=2 2 𝑎 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 4 𝑎 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 4 𝑎 = 𝑎 −0 = ∗𝑎 𝑎
3/2 0
3 3
0 0
2
8𝑎
⇒𝐴 = .
3
𝑥2 𝑦2
2. Find the area of the ellipse + = 1.
𝑎2 𝑏2
𝑥2 𝑦2
Solution: The concerned area is bounded by + = 1, the ordinates 𝑦 = 0,𝑦 = 𝑏 about
𝑎2 𝑏2
the 𝑦 axis.

𝑌
𝐵 (0, 𝑏)

𝑂(0,0) 𝐴(𝑎,0) 𝑋

We can have
𝑦2 𝑎2 2
𝑥2 = 𝑏2 1 − = (𝑏 − 𝑦 2 )
𝑎2 𝑏2
𝑎2 2 𝑎 2
⇒𝑥= 2
(𝑏 − 𝑦 2 ) = 𝑏 − 𝑦2
𝑏 𝑏
Along the𝑦 axis, 𝑥 = 0
𝑎
𝑏2 − 𝑦 2 = 0⇒
𝑏
⇒ 𝑏2 − 𝑦 2 = 0
⇒ 𝑦 = ±𝑏
Since the parabola is symmetric about the axes the total area can be calculated as four
times the area of first quadrant. In the first quadrant 𝑦 varies from 0 to 𝑏. Thus
𝑐 = 0, 𝑑 = 𝑏
Then
𝑑

𝐴= 𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝑐
𝑑 𝑏
𝑎 4𝑎 𝑦 𝑏2 𝑦
𝐴=4 𝑏 2 − 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑏 2 − 𝑦 2 + sin−1
𝑏 𝑏 2 2 𝑏 0
𝑐
4𝑎 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏2 4𝑎 𝑏2𝜋 4𝑎 𝑏 2 𝜋 𝑏2
= ∗ 0 + sin−1 − 0 ∗ 𝑏 2 − sin−1 0 = 0+ − 0− 0 =
𝑏 2 2 𝑏 2 𝑏 2 2 𝑏 2 2
⇒ 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑎𝑏
3. Find the area of the segment cut off from the parabola 𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 by the straight line
𝑦 = 𝑥.
Solution: Let 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 and 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥. In order to find the area enclosed between
𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) we need to find the points of intersection of the two curves by solving the
two equations. That is
 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 = 𝑥
⇒ 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 = 0
⇒ 𝑥 𝑥 −3 = 0
⇒ 𝑥 = 0,3
At 𝑥 = 0,𝑦 = 0 and at 𝑥 = 3, 𝑦 = 3
∴ (0,0) and (3,3) are the points of intersection.
Area enclosed between 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥)is given by
𝑏

𝐴= (𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
Where 𝑎 = 0, 𝑏 = 3.
𝑌

(3,3)

𝑂(0,0) (4,0) 𝑋

3 3 3
3𝑥 2 𝑥 3 27 27 27
⇒ 𝐴= (4𝑥 − 𝑥2 − 𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = (3𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ) 𝑑𝑥 = − = − −0+0 =
2 3 0
2 3 6
0 0
Hence the area enclosed between 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥)is 4.5 𝑠𝑞 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠.
16𝑎 2
4. Show that he area common to the parabolas 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥 and 𝑥 2 = 4𝑎𝑦 is .
3
Solution: Given 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥 and 𝑥 2 = 4𝑎𝑦. Thus
𝑥2
𝑦 = 4𝑎𝑥 and 𝑦 = 4𝑎
𝑥2
Let 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑎𝑥 and 𝑥 = 4𝑎 . In order to find the area enclosed between 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥)
we need to find the points of intersection of the two curves by solving the two equations.
That is
𝑥2
4𝑎𝑥 =
4𝑎
squaring on both sides
𝑥4
4𝑎𝑥 =
16𝑎2
⇒ 64𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑥 4
3

⇒ 𝑥 64𝑎3 − 𝑥 3 = 0
⇒ 𝑥 = 0, 4𝑎
At 𝑥 = 0,𝑦 = 0 and at 𝑥 = 4𝑎, 𝑦 = 4𝑎
∴ (0,0) and (3,3) are the points of intersection.
Area enclosed between 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) is given by
𝑏

𝐴= (𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑑𝑥
𝑎
 𝑌
𝑥 2 = 4𝑎𝑦
(4𝑎,4𝑎)

𝑂 (0,0) 𝑋

𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥

4𝑎 4𝑎 4𝑎
𝑥2 𝑥2 1 2 𝑎𝑥 3/2 𝑥3
⇒ 𝐴= ( 4𝑎𝑥 − ) 𝑑𝑥 = (2 𝑎𝑥 − ) 𝑑𝑥 =
2 −
4𝑎 4𝑎 3/2 3 ∗ 4𝑎 0
0 0
1 3/2
(4𝑎)3 1 3 1
= 4 𝑎(4𝑎) − − 0 + 0 = 4 𝑎 ∗ 8𝑎2 − 16𝑎2 = 32𝑎2 − 16𝑎2
3 4𝑎 3 3
2
16𝑎
=
3
16𝑎 2
Hence the area enclosed between 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) is 3 𝑠𝑞 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠.
5. Find the area bounded by the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 5) and the 𝑥 axis.
Solution: Let 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 5). Then the point of intersection with 𝑥 axis can be
obtained by solving it with 𝑦 = 0. Thus
𝑥 𝑥− 3 𝑥−5 = 0
⇒ 𝑥 = 0,3,5

𝑂(0,0) 𝑃(3,0) 𝑄(5,0) 𝑋

The total area ranges from 𝑂 to 𝑄 which can be taken as 𝑂 to 𝑃 and 𝑃 to 𝑄.

The area bounded between 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑥 axis can be obtained as
𝐴 = Area between 𝑂 and 𝑃 + Area between 𝑃 and 𝑄
𝑏 3 5

𝐴= 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = (𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 15𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 + (𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 15𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
𝑎 0 3
3
3 𝑥4 8𝑥 3 15𝑥 2
Area between 𝑂 and 𝑃 = 0
𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 = − +
4 3 2 0
81 135
= − 72 + − 0 = 15.75
4 2
5
5 𝑥4 8𝑥 3 15𝑥 2
Area between 𝑃 and 𝑄 = 3
𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 = − +
4 3 2 3
625 1000 375 81 135
= − + − + 72 − = −5.333
4 3 2 4 2
 Area is always taken as non negative, thus
Area between 𝑃 and 𝑄 = 5.333
∴ Total area = 15.75 + 5.33 = 21.0833.
6. Find the area enclosed by the curve 𝑎2 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 3 (2𝑎 − 𝑦).
𝑦
Solution: The function can be taken as 𝑥 = 𝑦 2𝑎 − 𝑦 .
𝑎
𝑦
Let 𝑓 𝑦 = 𝑦 2𝑎 − 𝑦
𝑎
Since the curve 𝑎2 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 3 (2𝑎 − 𝑦) is a loop symmetric about the 𝑦 axis, the limits can be
obtained by equating with 𝑥 = 0. Thus
𝑦
𝑦 2𝑎 − 𝑦 = 0
𝑎
⇒ 𝑦 = 0 or 𝑦 2𝑎 − 𝑦 = 0
⇒ 𝑦 = 0, 0,2𝑎
Area of the loop can be obtained as
𝑑 2𝑎
𝑦
𝐴= 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 2 𝑦 2𝑎 − 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑎
𝑐 0
{Let 𝑦 = 2𝑎sin2 𝜃
⇒ 𝑑𝑦 = 4𝑎 sin𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜋
At 𝑦 = 0, 𝜃 = 0 and at 𝑦 = 2𝑎,𝜃 = 2 }
𝜋
2
2𝑎 sin2 𝜃
⇒𝐴 =2 2𝑎 sin2 𝜃 2𝑎 − 2𝑎 sin2 𝜃 4𝑎 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑎
0
𝜋
2

=2 8𝑎 sin3 𝜃 cos 𝜃 4𝑎2 sin2 𝜃 1 − sin2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

0
𝜋 𝜋
311𝜋
=2 2
0 16𝑎2 sin3 𝜃 cos 𝜃 sin2 𝜃 cos 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 = 32𝑎2 2
0 sin4 𝜃 cos 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 = 32𝑎2 6 4 2 2 = 𝜋𝑎2 .
7. Find the area bounded by the parabola 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥 and the line 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3𝑎.
8. Find the area common to the circles 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4 and 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥.
9. Find the area included between the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 2𝑎𝑥 and the parabola 𝑦 2 = 𝑎𝑥.