7.

2 Areas in the Plane

 How can we find the area
y1  2  x 2
between these two curves?

We could split the area into

several sections, use
subtraction and figure it out,
y2   x but there is an easier way.


 Consider a very thin vertical
strip.
y1  2  x 2
The length of the strip is:
y1  y2 or  2  x 2
   x
Since the width of the strip is
y2   x a very small change in x, we
could call it dx.


 y1

y1  2  x 2
y1  y2
dx
y2

Since the strip is a long thin

y2   x rectangle, the area of the strip is:
length  width   2  x 2  x  dx

2
If we add all the strips, we get: 
1
2  x 2  x dx


 2
1
2  x 2  x dx
y1  2  x 2 2
1 3 1 2
2x  x  x
3 2 1

 8   1 1
 4   2    2   
 3   3 2

y2   x 8 1 1
6 2 
3 3 2
36  16  12  2  3 27 9
 
6 6 2

 The formula for the area between curves is:

b
Area    f1  x   f 2  x   dx
a

We will use this so much, that you won’t need to

“memorize” the formula!


 y x If we try vertical strips, we
have to integrate in two parts:
dx
y  x2 2 4

dx  x dx   x   x  2  dx
0 2

y x We can find the same area

using a horizontal strip.

y  x2
Since the width of the strip
dy is dy, we find the length of
the strip by solving for x in
y x y  x2 terms of y.
y2  x y2 x


 y x We can find the same area
using a horizontal strip.

y  x2
Since the width of the strip
dy is dy, we find the length of
the strip by solving for x in
y x y  x2 terms of y.
y2  x y2 x
2
2 1 2 1 3
  y  2  y y  2y  y
2
dy
0 2 3 0
length of strip
8 10
24 
width of strip 3 3

 General Strategy for Area Between Curves:

1 Sketch the curves.

2 Decide on vertical or horizontal strips. (Pick

whichever is easier to write formulas for the length of
the strip, and/or whichever will let you integrate fewer
times.)

3 Write an expression for the area of the strip.

(If the width is dx, the length must be in terms of x.
If the width is dy, the length must be in terms of y.
4 Find the limits of integration. (If using dx, the limits
are x values; if using dy, the limits are y values.)
5 Integrate to find area.