Chapter 1

Application of Definite Integrals

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1.1 Area of Region Bounded by Curves

A. Using Vertical Subdivisions

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Suppose we want to find the area of the region that is bounded above by the curve y = f (x),
below thecurve y = g(x) and on the left by the line x = 1 and on the right by the line x = b.
See Illustraration 1.
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Illustration 1: The region between the curves y = f (x) and y = g(x) and the vertical lines
x = a and x = b.

To find the area of the region AR we approximate the region with n vertical rectangles based
on a partition P = {x0 , x1 , x2 , · · · , xn } of [a, b]. See Illustation 2.
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Illustration 2: We approximate it by subdividing the region with rectangles perpendicualr to

the x−axis.

The area of the kth rectangle (see ILlustration 3) is

Ak = h × w
= [f (ck ) − g(ck )]∆xk .

1
2 CHAPTER 1. APPLICATION OF DEFINITE INTEGRALS

Illustration 3: The area Ak of the kth rectangle is the product of its height
h = f (ck ) − g(ck ), and its width w = ∆xk .

We then approximate the area of the region Ar by adding the areas of the n rectangles:

n
AR = A1 + A2 + A3 + · · · An
Xn
= Ak

iga
k=1
n
X
= [f (ck ) − g(ck )]∆xk
k=1
Z b
AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx
a

Definition 1.1.1. If f and g are continuous with f (x) ≥ g(x) throughout [a, b], then the area
s
of the region between the curves y = f (x) and y = g(x) from a to b is the integral of (f − g)
from a to b:
b
ara
Z
AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx
a

where
f (x) is the upper curve or the upper boundary of the region
g(x) is the lower curve or the lower boundary of the region
a is the lower limit, (x = a) boarder line on the left
b is the upper limit, (x = b) boarder line on the right
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Example 1.1. Find the area of the region bounded by y = 4 − 2x, the lines x = 0 and y = 0.

Solution: Illustration 4, displays the graphs of the curves and the region whose area we want
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to find.

Illustration 4
1.1. AREA OF REGION BOUNDED BY CURVES 3

From the above illustration, we have the following information

f (x) = 4 − 2x is the upper curve or the upper boundary of the region

g(x) = 0 is the lower curve or the lower boundary of the region
a = 0 is the lower limit, (x = a) boarder line on the left
b = 2 is the upper limit, (x = b) boarder line on the right

Z b
Using the formula AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx, we have
a

Z b
AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx
a
Z 2
= [(4 − 2x) − 0]dx
0
Z 2

n
= (4 − 2x)dx
0
x2 2
 
= 4x − 2
2 0

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2
= 4x − x2 0


= 4(2) − 22 − 4(0) − 02
   
 
= 8 − 4 − [0]
= [8 − 4]
AR = 4 sq.units
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Solution 2: Illustration 4B, displays the graphs of the curves and the region whose area we
want to find.
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Illustration 4B

From the above illustration, we have the following information

4−y
f (y) = is the right curve or the right boundary of the region
2
g(y) = 0 is the left curve or the left boundary of the region
c = 0 is the lower limit, (y = c) boarder line on the left
d = 4 is the upper limit, (y = d) boarder line on the right
4 CHAPTER 1. APPLICATION OF DEFINITE INTEGRALS

Z d
Using the formula AR = [f (y) − g(y)]dy, we have
c
Z d
AR = [f (y) − g(y)]dy
c
Z 4  
4−y
= − 0 dy
0 2
Z 4
4−y
= dy
0 2
y 2 4
 
1
= 4y −
2 2 0
y 2 4
 
= 2y −
4 0
(4)2 (0)2
   
= 2(4) − − 2(0) −
4 4

n
 
= 8 − 4 − [0]
= [8 − 4]
AR = 4 sq.units

a triangle from geometry is A = bh

2
1
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Notice that the region is a triangle whose base is b = 2 and height h = 4. We know the area of
1

AR = bh
s
2
1
= (2)(4)
2
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1
= (8)
2
AR = 4 sq.units

√
Example 1.2. Find the area of the region R bounded by the curves y = x and y = x3 using
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a) Vertical Subdivisions and b) Horizontal subdivisions.

Illustration 5, displays the graphs of the curves and the region whose area we want to find.
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Illustration 5
1.1. AREA OF REGION BOUNDED BY CURVES 5

Solution A: Vertical Subdivision

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Illustration 5A

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From the above illustration, we have the following information

√
f (x) = x is the upper curve or the upper boundary of the region
g(x) = x3 is the lower curve or the lower boundary of the region
a = 0 is the lower limit, (x = 0) boarder line on the left
b = 1 is the upper limit, (x = 1) boarder line on the right
Z b
Using the formula AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx, we have
s
a
Z b
AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx
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a
Z 1 √
= [ x − x3 ]dx
0
Z 1
x1/2 − x3 dx

=
0
2 3/2 1 4 1
 
= x − x 
3 4 0
   
2 3/2 1 4 2 3/2 1 4
= (1) − (1) − (0) − (0)
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3 4 3 4
 
2 1  
= − − 0
3 4
5
AR = sq.units
12
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6 CHAPTER 1. APPLICATION OF DEFINITE INTEGRALS

Solution B: Horizontal Subdivision

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Illustration 5B

From the above illustration, we have the following information

√
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f (y) = x = 3 y is the right curve or the right boundary of the region
g(y) = x = y 2 is the left curve or the left boundary of the region
c = 0 is the lower limit, (y = 0) boarder line on the left
s
d = 1 is the upper limit, (y = 1) boarder line on the right
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Z d
Using the formula AR = [f (y) − g(y)]dy, we have
c

Z d
AR = [f (y) − g(y)]dy
c
1
√
Z
= [ 3 y − y 2 ]dx
0
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Z 1
y 1/3 − y 2 dx

=
0
3 4/3 1 3 1
 
= y − y 
4 3 0
   
3 4/3 1 3 3 4/3 1 3
= (1) − (1) − (0) − (0)
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4 3 4 3
 
3 1  
= − − 0
4 3
5
AR = sq.units
12

Example 1.3. Find the area of the region enclosed by the parabola y = 2 − x2 and the line
y = −x.

Solution: Illustration 5, displays the graphs of the curves and the region whose area we want
to find.
1.1. AREA OF REGION BOUNDED BY CURVES 7

Ilustration 5

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From the above illustration, we have the following information

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f (x) = 2 − x2 is the upper curve or the upper boundary of the region
g(x) = −x is the lower curve or the lower boundary of the region
a = −1 is the lower limit, (x = a) boarder line on the left
b = 2 is the upper limit, (x = b) boarder line on the right

Z b
Using the formula AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx, we have
a
s
Z b
AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx
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a
Z 2
(2 − x2 ) − (−x) dx
 
=
−1
Z 2
2 − x2 + x dx


=
−1
Z 2
2 + x − x2 dx


=
−1
x2 x3 2
 
= 2x + −
2 3 −1
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22 23 (−1)2 (−1)3
   
= 2(2) + − − 2(−1) + −
2 3 2 3
 
4 8 1 1
= 4+ − − [−2 + + ]
2 3 2 3
9
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AR = sq.units
2

Example 1.4. Find the area of the region bounded above by the curve y = 2e−x + x, below by
ex
the curve y = , on the left by x = 0, and on the right by x = 1.
2

Solution: Illustration 6, displays the graphs of the curves and the region whose area we want
to find.
8 CHAPTER 1. APPLICATION OF DEFINITE INTEGRALS

Illustration 6

From the above illustration, we have the following information

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f (x) = 2e−x + x is the upper curve or the upper boundary of the region
ex
g(x) = is the lower curve or the lower boundary of the region
2
a = 0 is the lower limit, (x = a) boarder line on the left

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b = 1 is the upper limit, (x = b) boarder line on the right
Z b
Using the formula AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx, we have
a
Z b
AR = [f (x) − g(x)]dx
a
Z 1  x 
e
2e−x + x −


= dx
0 2
s
x2 1 x 1
 
−x
= − 2e + − e 
2 2
 0
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2 02 1 0
 
−1 1 1 1 0
= − 2e + − e − − 2e + − e
2 2 2 2
   
1 1 1
= − 2e−1 + − e − − 2 + 0 −
2 2 2
2 e
=3− −
e 2
AR ≈ 0.9051 sq.units
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1.1. AREA OF REGION BOUNDED BY CURVES 9

√
Example 1.5. Find the area of the region in the first quadrant that is bounded above by y = x
and below the x-axis and the line y = x − 2.

Solution: Illustration 7, displays the graphs of the curves and the region whose area we want
to find.

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Illustration 7
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Illustration 7A

Since, the region is divided into two parts A and B, then

AR = AR1 + AR2
10 CHAPTER 1. APPLICATION OF DEFINITE INTEGRALS

Solving for the Areas individually. For area of R1

Z b
 
AR 1 = f (x) − g(x) dx
a
Z 2
√ 
= x − 0 dx
0
2 3/2 2

= x 
3 0
2 3/2 2 3/2
= (2) − (0)
3 3
4√
AR 1 = 2 sq.units
3
Solvinf gor the Area of R2 ,

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Z b 
AR2 = f (x) − g(x) dx
a
Z 4 √ 
= x − (x − 2) dx

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2
4
2 3/2 x2


= x − + 2x 
3 2 2
2 3/2 (4)2 2 3/2 (2)2
   
= (4) − + 2(4) − (2) − + 2(2)
3 2 3 2
   √ 
16 4 2
= −8+8 − −2+4
3 3
√
16 4 2
s
= − −2
3 √3
10 − 4 2
AR 2 = sq.units
3
ara

Therefore the Area of the region R,

AR = AR1 + AR2
√ 
4√

10 − 4 2
= 2+ sq.units
3 3
10
= sq.units
3
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Solution B. Using Horizontal Subdivisions

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Illustration 7B
1.1. AREA OF REGION BOUNDED BY CURVES 11

Z d
AR = [f (y) − g(y)]dy
c
Z 2
= [(y + 2) − y 2 ]dy
0
Z 2
= [2 + y − y 2 ]dy
0
y 2 y 3 2
 
= 2y + −
2 3 0
(2)2 (2)3 (0)2 (0)3
   
= 2(2) + − − 2(0) + −
2 3 2 3
 
8  
= 4+2− − 0
3
10

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AR = sq.units
3

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B. Using Horizontal Subdivisions

If a region’s bounding curves are described by functions of y, the approximating rectangles are
horizontal instead of vertical and the basic formula has y in place of x.
For the regions like these:
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Illustration 8
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Z d
AR = [f (y) − g(y)]dy
c

where
f (y) is the right curve or the right boundary of the region
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g(y) is the left curve or the left boundary of the region

c is the lower limit, (y = c) boarder line below
d is the upper limit, (y = d) boarder line above

In this equation f always denotes the right-hand curve and g the left-hand curve, so f (y) − g(y)
is non-negative.

Example 1.6. Find the area of the region in Example 1.4 by integrating with respect to y.

Solution: We first sketch the region and a typical horizontal rectangle based on a partition
of an interval of y-values, see Illustration 9.
12 CHAPTER 1. APPLICATION OF DEFINITE INTEGRALS

Illustration 9

Based on the illustration above, we have

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f (y) = y + 2 is the right curve or the right boundary of the region
g(y) = y 2 is the left curve or the left boundary of the region
c = 0 is the lower limit, (y = c) boarder line below
d = 2 is the upper limit, (y = d) boarder line above

The area of the region is

AR =

=
Z

a
Z

0
 2
y
s b

2
[f (y) − g(y)]dx

y + 2 − y 2 dx

y 3 2



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= + 2y −
2 3 0
y 2 y 3 2
 
= 2y + −
ara
2 3 0
22 23 02 03
   
= 2(2) + − − 2(0) + −
2 3 2 3
   
−1 1 1 1
= − 2e + − e − − 2 + 0 −
2 2 2
4 8
=4+ − −0
2 3
10
AR = sq.units
3
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1.1. AREA OF REGION BOUNDED BY CURVES 13

Exercises 1.1. Find the total areas of the shaded regions.

5.
π
Answer: 2

1.
16
Answer:

an
3

sig
2.
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6.

3.
Answer: 25/2
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7.
128
4. Answer: 15
 14 CHAPTER 1. APPLICATION OF DEFINITE INTEGRALS

12.

8.

an
9.
Answer: 4
3
sig
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13.
ma

38
Answer: 3

10.
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11.
5
Answer: 6 14.
 1.1. AREA OF REGION BOUNDED BY CURVES 15

15.

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49 16.
Answer: 6

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Exercises 1.2. Graph the given curves and find the area of the region bounded by the these curves.

1. y = x2 , y = 0, x = 2 and x = 5

2. y = x3 , y = 0, x = 1 and x = 3

3. y = 4x − x2 , y = 0, x = 1 and x = 3

4. x = 1 + y 2 , x = 10
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5. x = 3y 2 − 9, x = 0, y = 0, y = 1
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6. x = y 2 + 4y, x = 0

7. y = 9 − x2 and y = x + 3

8. y = 2 − x2 and y = −x

9. y = x2 − 4 and 8 − 2x2

10. x = y 2 and x = 18 − y 2
√
11. y = x and y = x3
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12. 2x2 + 4x + y = 0 and y = 2x

13. y 2 = x and x2 − 2x + 3y = 2
1
14. y = √ , x = 0, x = 3 and y = 0
x+1
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15. y =, x = 0, x = 3 and y = 0