Determination of Arc Length

(i) For the Cartesian curve, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥):

The arc-length 𝑆 between two points with abscissa 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏 is

𝐴𝐵 = 𝑆 = ∫ (1 + 𝑑𝑥 .

Y B

y=f(x)

X
B X=a X=b

(ii) For the Cartesian curve, 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑦):

The arc-length 𝑆 between two points with ordinates 𝑦 = 𝑐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 𝑑 is

𝑆=∫ (1 + 𝑑𝑦.

(iii) For the parametric curve, 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑡), 𝑦 = 𝜑(𝑡):

The arc-length 𝑆 between 𝑡 and 𝑡 is

𝑆=∫ + 𝑑𝑡.

(iv) For the polar curve, 𝑟 = 𝑓(𝜃):

The arc-length 𝑆 between two points with vertical angles 𝛼 and 𝛽 is

𝑆=∫ 𝑟 + 𝑑𝜃.

(v) For the polar curve, 𝜃 = 𝑓(𝑟):

The arc-length 𝑆 is 𝑆 = ∫ 1+𝑟 𝑑𝑟.

(vi) For the pedal curve, 𝑝 = 𝑓(𝑟):

The arc-length 𝑆 between two points with radius vector 𝑟 = 𝑎 and 𝑟 = 𝑏 is 𝑆 =

∫ .
 / / /
Example 1: Find the total length/ perimeter of the astroid 𝑥 +𝑦 =𝑎 .
1.0

0.5

 1.0  0.5 0.5 1.0

 0.5

 1.0

/ / /
Solution: Given 𝑥 +𝑦 =𝑎 (1)

Differentiate (1) w.r. to 𝑥, we get

/ /
𝑥 + 𝑦 =0
/
or, =− /

/ / / / /
Now, 1+ = 1+ /
= /
= /
= /
[by (1)]

/
/ / / /
Total length = 4 ∫ 1+ 𝑑𝑥 = 4 ∫ /
dx = 4𝑎 x = 6𝑎 𝑎 =
6𝑎.

Example 2: Find the total length of the cycloid 𝑥 = 𝑎(𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃), 𝑦 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃).
2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

3 2 1 1 2 3

Solution: Given , 𝑥 = 𝑎(𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃), 𝑦 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)

Now, = 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃), = −𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃.

Now, + = 𝑎 (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) +𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑎√2√1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 2𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃/2

Total length = ∫ + 𝑑𝜃 = ∫ 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑑𝜃 = 4𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 = 8𝑎.

Example 3: Find the total length of the Cardioide 𝑟 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃).

Solution: Given, 𝑟 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) (1)

1.0

0.5

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

 0.5

 1.0

Now, = −𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃.

Now, (𝑟) + = 𝑎 (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) +𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑎√2√1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 2𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃/2

Total length = 2 ∫ (𝑟) + 𝑑𝜃 = 2 ∫ 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑑𝜃 = 8𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 = 8𝑎.