CALCULUS III

CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION OF INTEGRATION

APPLICATION OF INTEGRATION

This chapter will explore some of the uses of integration for practical purposes. We have already
found that being able to integrate is essentially the same thing as being able to find antiderivatives.

Topics:
1. Area of a Region in a Plane
2. Volume of a Solid of Revolution
3. Work
Objectives

At the end of the session/s, the pre- service teachers should be able to:
1. Find the area of the region bounded by curves using Riemann sum and definite integrals;
2. Find the volume of a solid of revolution using different methods;
3. Apply definite integrals in solving work problems

AREAS OF A REGION IN A PLANE

DEFINITION. If f(x) is a nonnegative continuous function on [a, b], consider the region bounded
by the graph y = f(x), the x-axis, and the lines x = a and x = b. Then the areas of this region are
defined to be the integral
𝑏
∫ 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥.
𝑎
If f(x) is a continuous function on [a, b] \, the area of the region bounded by the graph y = f(x),
the axis, and the lines x = a and x = b is defined to be the integral
𝑏
∫ |𝑓(𝑥)| 𝑑𝑥.
𝑎

A. Area bounded by curves

Consider two functions f(x) and g(x) continuous on close interval [a, b]. the area of the region
bounded by these two curves 𝑦1 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑦2 = 𝑔(𝑥) and the two lines 𝑥1 = 𝑎 and 𝑥2 = 𝑏 can be
found as follows:

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CALCULUS III
CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION OF INTEGRATION

Take a rectangular partition of the interval [a, b], each subinterval having a width of ∆𝑥. In each
subinterval choose a point 𝑥𝑖 . Consider a rectangle having altitude [𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) − 𝑔(𝑥𝑖 )] and width ∆𝑥. There
are n rectangles, one associated with each subinterval. The sum of the area of these n rectangles is given
by the following Riemann sum.
𝑛

∑[𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) − 𝑔(𝑥𝑖 )]∆𝑥

𝑖=1

The Riemann sum is an approximation of the number representing the area of the region. The larger the
value of n, the smaller the value of ∆𝑥, the closer is the approximation. If A is the area of the region,
then
𝑛

𝐴 = lim ∑[𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) − 𝑔(𝑥𝑖 )]∆𝑥

𝑛→+∞
𝑖=1

Since f(x) and g(x) are continuous on [a,b] as well as [𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) − 𝑔(𝑥𝑖 )], therefore the limit on the above
equation exist and thus,
𝑏
𝐴 = ∫ [𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)]𝑑𝑥
𝑎

Example 1. Find the area of the region bounded by y = 2x, y = -3x and x = 4

Example 2. Find the area of the region bounded by 𝑥 2 = 4𝑦 + 4 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 2

Example 3. Find the area bounded by the curves 𝑦 2 = 2𝑥 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 4

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CALCULUS III
CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION OF INTEGRATION

Area of the Region between Two Curves

If 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are continuous function satisfying 𝑓(𝑥) ≥ 𝑔(𝑥)∀𝑥 ∈ [𝑎, 𝑏], considere the region
between 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥), that is, {(𝑥, 𝑦)} ∶ 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏, 𝑓(𝑥) ≥ 𝑦 ≥ 𝑔(𝑥)}. The area of
this region is defined to be
𝑏
∫ (𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥))𝑑𝑥.
𝑎

If 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are continuous functions on [a,b], the area of the region between 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and
𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) and between 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏 is defined to be
𝑏
∫ |𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)|𝑑𝑥 .
𝑎

Example 4. Find the area of the region enclosed between the x-axis and the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 5.

Example 5. Find the area of the region enclosed between the curves 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 and 𝑦 = 𝑥.

Example 6. Find the area of the region enclosed by the parabola 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 and the line 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 2

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CALCULUS III
CHAPTER 1: APPLICATION OF INTEGRATION

SUMMARY

Areas Of Regions in the Plane

1. Find the curves that enclose the region whose area we want, expressing y as a function of x.
2. Distinguish intervals on which one curve is always above the other curve. This will involve
solving for points of intersection of two curves (or of one curve with the x axis).
3. Integrate over each interval and add the answers.
4. Consider writing x as a function of y to simplify some or all of the integrals.

Try this!
𝜋
1. Find the area of the region enclosed between 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 and the x-axis between 𝑥 = − and
2
𝑥 = 0.
𝜋
2. Find the area of the region enclosed between 𝑦 = cos 𝑥 and the x-axis between 𝑥 = − and
2
𝑥 = 0.

Assessment 1

1. Find the area of the region between the following function and the x-axis over the
given interval [a, b]: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 [−2, 1]
2. Find the area of the region enclosed between the given function and the x-axis:
𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 𝑥 2
3. Find the area of the enclosed figure between the given functions:
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 , 𝑔(𝑥) = 4𝑥
b. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 , 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 − 𝑥 , 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3

References:

Apa-ap, Renato E., Malaborbor, Pastor B., Cabero, Jonathan B., Salamat, Lorina G., Sta. Maria, Antonina
C. (2007). Simplified Approach to Integral Calculus. New Galaxie Lithographic Arts & Printing Press

Repka, Joe (1994). Calculus with Analytic Geometry. Wm. C. Brown Communications, Inc.