EM 2 MODULE 6 LESSON 1

PLANE AREAS

Objectives:

1. To be able to use other methods of integration in determining plane areas.

Plane Areas

Previously plane areas were handled but were handicapped by the limited facility of
integration. Examples will show the utilization of these integration techniques.

Example (a). Find the loop of the curve y2 = 4x2 (1 – x).

Solution:

The sketch of the curve is shown in the figure below. Due to symmetry, a vertical
element is drawn on the area of the loop in the first quadrant only.

1
A = 2 ∫0 𝑦𝑑𝑥

y2 = 4x2 (1 – x), y = 2x √1 − 𝑥
1
= 2 ∫0 2x √1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1
= 4 ∫0 x √1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Figure 1. The sketch of the loop of the curve y2 = 4x2 (1 – x)

Using integration by parts:

u=x dv = √1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

(1−𝑥)3/2
du = dx v= − 3/2

4𝑥 (1−𝑥)3/2 1 1 (1−𝑥)3/2
A = [− ] + 4∫0 dx
3/2 0 3/2

3 1 3
8 8
= [− 3 𝑥 (1 − 𝑥 )2 ] + ∫ (1 − 𝑥)2 dx
0 3

3 1 5 1
8 16
= [− 3 𝑥 (1 − 𝑥 )2 ] + [15 (1 − 𝑥)2 ]
0 0

5 1 16
16
=0 – 15
[(1 − 𝑥)2 ] = 15 Ans.
0
Substitution Suggested by the Problem.

In the usual procedure in finding plane the formula

𝑏
A = ∫𝑎 𝑦𝑑𝑥,

we invariably substituted for y. But sometimes it is more convenient to substitute for dx and

change to y-limits. That is, we take as the substitution formula, the equation of the curve itself.

Example (a). Find in two ways, the area in the first quadrant bounded by the cubic y = 3x

– x3, the lines x = 0, y = 2. The curve is shown in the figure below.

Figure 10. The sketch of area of the cubic y = 3x – x3, the lines x = 0, y = 2 in the first

quadrant where a horizontal element is drawn.

 First Method. Using a vertical element.
1
A = ∫0 (2 − 𝑦)𝑑𝑥

1
= ∫0 (2 − (3𝑥 − 𝑥 3 ))𝑑𝑥

1
= ∫0 (2 − 3𝑥 + 𝑥 3 ) 𝑑𝑥

3𝑥 2 𝑥4 1
= [2𝑥 − + ]
2 4
0

3 1 3
=2−2+4 = 4 Ans.

Second Method. Using the horizontal element.

2
A = ∫0 𝑥 𝑑𝑦

It is not feasible to substitute for x, but we may easily substitute for dy and change

limits:

dy = (3 – 3x3) dx;

when x = 0 when y = 0,

x = 1, when y = 2.
2 1
A = ∫0 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 3 ∫0 (𝑥 − 𝑥 3 )𝑑𝑦

𝑥2 𝑥4 1
=3[2 − ]
4
0

(1)2 (1)4 1 3
= 3( − ) = 3 (4)= 4 Ans.
2 4
Example (b). Find the area of the ellipse defined by the equations

x = a cos 𝜑, y = b sin 𝜑

Solution:

The sketch of the ellipse is shown in the Figure No. 8. Due to symmetry, consider
the area in the first quadrant. A vertical element is drawn. Since both x and y are expressed
by the parameter 𝜑, the area A should be in terms of 𝜑.

Figure 2. The sketch of the ellipse defined by x = a cos 𝜑 and y = b sin 𝜑.

𝑎
A = 4 ∫0 𝑦𝑑𝑥

x = a cos 𝜑, y = b sin 𝜑

dx = – a sin 𝜑 𝑑𝜑
1
As for the limits, when x = 0, 𝜑 = 𝜋, when x = a, 𝜑 = 0. Therefore
2
 0
A = 4 ∫1𝜋 b sin 𝜑 (– a sin 𝜑 𝑑𝜑)
2

1
𝜋
= 4 𝑎𝑏 ∫02 sin2 𝜑 𝑑𝜑)

1 𝜋
= 4 𝑎𝑏 ∙ 2 ∙ Using Wallis’ Formula
2

= 𝜋 𝑎𝑏 Ans.
Exercises

A. Solve for the area as described.

1. Find the area under one arch of the curve y = cos ¼ x.

𝑥
2. Find the area under one arch of the curve y = 2 sin
2

1
3. Find the area bounded by y2 = (2−𝑥)3, x = – 2, x = 0.

4. Find the area bounded by y = ln x, y = 0, x = e and x = 2e.

5. Find the area bounded by y = (1 – x2)2 and y = 0.

6. Find the area of one arch of the cycloid x = 2(𝜃 − sin 𝜃), y = 2(1 − cos 𝜃)

7. Find the area under the first arch of y = x sin x.

𝑥
8. Find the area bounded by the curve y = 1−𝑥 , x = 0, y = e – 1, y = 2e – 1.

9. Find the area bounded by the curve y = ¼ x3 – 3x and y = – 4.

10. Find the area of the loop of the given curve y2 = x (1 – x2).