Application of integration

Area under a curve:

Consider the shaded areas 𝐴∗ ,𝐵 ∗ , 𝐶 ∗ and 𝐷∗ below.
𝑦

𝑦=𝑏 𝐵
𝐵 •

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝐷∗ 𝐶∗ 𝐵
𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑦)
𝐴
𝐴 •
𝑦=𝑎 𝐴
𝐴∗
• •
𝑥=𝑎 𝑥=𝑏
𝐵∗

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝐵

From the diagram above, we have the following important remarks;

1) The area under the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) , above the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 between the ordinates
𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏 (i.e. 𝐴∗ ) is given by

𝑏 𝑏
∫𝑎 𝑦 ∙ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥

2) The area bounded by the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), below the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 between the
ordinates 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏(i.e. shaded area 𝐵 ∗ ) is given by

𝑏 𝑏 𝑏
∫𝑎 −𝑦 ∙ 𝑑𝑥 = − ∫𝑎 𝑦𝑑𝑥 = − ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥

3) The area bounded by the curve 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑦), 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 between the abscissae 𝑦 = 𝑎
and 𝑦 = 𝑏 (Area 𝐶 ∗ ) is given by
𝑏 𝑏
∫𝑎 𝑥𝑑𝑦 = ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑦)𝑑𝑦

1
 4) The area bounded by the curve 𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑦), 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 between abscissae 𝑦 = 𝑏
(Area 𝐷∗ ) is given by

𝑏 𝑏
∫𝑎 −𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = − ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑦)𝑑𝑦

5) If 𝑓(𝑥) ≥ 0 for 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑐 and 𝑓(𝑥) ≤ 0 for 𝑐 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏,(figure below), then the

area bounded by the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 and the ordinates 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏
is given by

𝑐 𝑏
𝑆 ∗ = ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫𝑐 −𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥

𝑐 𝑏
= ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 − ∫𝑐 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥

X’ 𝐶 X

0 𝑥=𝑎 𝑥=𝑏
Y’

Note: it is necessary to draw a rough sketch in order to see whether the region is above
the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 or is below the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 or is partly above and partly below the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. If it
is difficult to draw the sketch of a function or it is not specifically asked in the question,
then we can avoid drawing the sketch and observe the sign of the function on the
interval under consideration.
N.B:
Note that
𝑐 𝑏 𝑏
∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 − ∫𝑐 𝑑𝑥 ≠ ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥

2
Example 1
Find the area bounded by the curve 𝑦 = cos 𝑥, 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 and the ordinates 𝑥 = 0 and
𝑥 = 2𝜋
y
2
1

𝜋
𝜋 3𝜋
0 2𝜋 𝑥
2 2

−1
Now
𝜋
cos 𝑥 > 0 When 𝑥 ∈ (0, 2 )
𝜋 3𝜋
cos 𝑥 < 0 when 𝑥 ∈ ( 2 , )
2

3𝜋
cos 𝑥 > 0 when 𝑥 ∈ ( 2 , 2𝜋)

∴ the required Area= 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 of shaded ergion

𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋
2 2 2 2
= ∫ |𝑦|𝑑𝑦 = ∫ |𝑦|𝑑𝑥 + ∫ |𝑦|𝑑𝑥 + ∫ |𝑦|𝑑𝑥
3𝜋
0 0 2𝜋
2

𝜋 3𝜋
2𝜋
2 2
= ∫ cos 𝑥𝑑𝑥 + ∫ − cos 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ cos 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝜋 3𝜋
0
2 2

𝜋 𝜋
= sin 𝑥|02 − 2
sin 𝑥|3𝜋 + sin 𝑥|2𝜋
3𝜋
2 2

= 4 𝑠𝑞 ∙ 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠

3
Example
Find the area bounded by the curve 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 between 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 2𝜋

1
3𝜋
2
𝜋
0 𝜋 2𝜋 𝑥
2

−1

Required area = area of shaded region

2𝜋 2𝜋
= ∫0 |𝑦|𝑑𝑥 = ∫𝜋 |𝑦|𝑑𝑥
𝜋 2𝜋
= ∫0 𝑦𝑑𝑥 + ∫𝜋 −𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝜋 2𝜋
= ∫0 sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − ∫𝜋 sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= [− cos 𝑥]𝜋0 + [cos 𝑥]2𝜋

𝜋

= 4 𝑠𝑞. 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠

Exercise (first do the example behind this page)

3) Draw a rough sketch of 𝑦 = sin 2𝑥 and determine the area(bounded) enclosed by the
𝜋
curve, 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 and the lines 𝑥 = 4 and 𝑥 = 3𝜋/4
𝜋
4) Make a rough sketch of the function 𝑦 = cos 3𝑥, 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ and determine the area
6
enclosed between the curve and the coordinate axis.
5) find the area bounded by the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 ,axis and the ordinates 𝑥 = 1, 𝑥 = 2
6) find the area in the first quadrant bounded by the parabola 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2
and line 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 1 , 𝑦 = 4
7)find the area bounded by the curve 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎2 (𝑥 − 3) and the lines 𝑥 = 3 , 𝑦 = 4𝑎

4
 16𝑎
𝐴𝑛𝑠 ( )
3
𝑥2 𝑦2
8) find the area under the ellipse: 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 1

𝐵 (0, 𝑏)
•

•
0 𝐴(𝑎, 0) 𝑋

Required area = 4 × area of ellipse in the first quadrant

= 4 × area 𝑂𝐴𝐵
𝑎
= 4 ∫0 𝑦 ∙ 𝑑𝑥

Where 𝑦 is:
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ 𝑏2 = 1
𝑎2

𝑏2
𝑦 2 = 𝑎2 (𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )
𝑏
𝑦 = 𝑎 √𝑎2 − 𝑥 2
4𝑏 𝑎
∴ required area = 𝑎
∫0 √𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

Let 𝑥 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃
𝜋
⇒ 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑑𝜃 , 𝜃 = 0|𝑥=0 and 𝜃 = 2 |
𝑥=𝑎
𝜋
4𝑏
= 𝑎
∫02 √𝑎2 − 𝑎2 sin2 𝜃 ∙ 𝑎 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜋
= 4𝑎𝑏 ∫02 cos 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜋
1+𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃
= 4𝑎𝑏 ∫02 ( ) 𝑑𝜃 (∵ 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 = 2 cos 2 𝜃, from cos(𝜃 + 𝜃) )
2
𝜋
= 2𝑎𝑏 ∫02 (1 + cos 2𝜃) 𝑑𝜃

= 𝜋𝑎𝑏 sq. units.

5
Area between two curves
Let 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) be two functions such that 0 ≤ 𝑔(𝑥) ≤ 𝑓(𝑥) for 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏
I.e. both the curves lie above the axis and the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
Lies above the curve 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)
The area between 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) for 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏 is shown in the figure:

Y
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝐵=
𝐴 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑐 𝐷

𝐸 𝐹 X

∴ required area =Area of shaded region

=Area ABDC =Aea ABFE−Area CDFE

𝑏 𝑏
= ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 𝑔(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑎 𝑎

𝑏
= ∫ [𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)]𝑑𝑥
𝑎

∴ Area between 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑦, 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏

𝑏
= ∫ (𝑦𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 − 𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 )𝑑𝑥
𝑎

6
Example 1
Using integration, find the area of the region bounded by the curves
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 2 , 𝑦 = 𝑥 , 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 3
Solution
y
𝑦 = 𝑥2 + 2
𝐵
2 𝑦=𝑥
𝐶
𝐴

0 3 X

𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 2 ……….. (1)
𝑥=𝑦 ………….. (2)
𝑥=0 ………….. (3)
𝑥=3 …………. (4)
From (1); we have
𝑥2 = 𝑦 − 2

𝑥 0 1 −1 2 −2
𝑦 2 3 3 4 4

Required area = area of shaded region

= area of OABC

3
= ∫ (𝑦𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 − 𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 )𝑑𝑥
0

3
= ∫ (𝑥 2 + 2 − 𝑥)𝑑𝑥
0

7
 3
𝑥3 𝑥2
= [ 3 + 2𝑥 − ]
2 0

9
= (9 + 6 − 2) − 0
21 1
= or 10 2 sq. units
2

Example
Find the area of the region enclosed by the parabola
𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥 and the chord 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥.
Solution
𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥 ………… (1): right handed parabola with vertex (0,0)
and symmetric to 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 ………….. (2) straight line passing through the origin
with slope m
Solving (1) and (2) simultaneously, we have;
(𝑚𝑥)2 = 4𝑎𝑥
𝑚2 𝑥 2 − 4𝑎𝑥 = 0
𝑥(𝑚2 𝑥 − 4𝑠) = 0
4𝑎
𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 𝑚2

y 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥
𝐴

x
0 𝐵

𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥
∴
𝑦 = 𝑚(0) = 0 , when 𝑥 = 0
4𝑎 4𝑎 4𝑎
𝑦 = 𝑚 (𝑚2 ) = , when 𝑥 = 𝑚2
𝑚

4𝑎 4𝑎
Thus we have (0,0) and (𝑚2 , 𝑚 ) as points of intersection

8
Shaded area
4𝑎
𝑚2
=∫ (𝑌𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 − 𝑌𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 )𝑑𝑥
0

4𝑎
𝑚2
=∫ (√4𝑎𝑥 − 𝑚𝑥)𝑑𝑥
0
4𝑎
3 𝑚2
𝑥2 𝑚𝑥 2
= [√4𝑎 ∙ 3 − ]
2
2 0
4𝑎
3
√4𝑎 𝑚𝑥 2 𝑚2 8 𝑎2
=[ ∙ 𝑥2 − ] = 3 (𝑚3 ) sq. units
3 2 0

Example
Find the area of the region induced between the parabola
𝑦2 = 𝑥 and the line 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 2
Solution y
𝑦2 = 𝑥 𝑦2 = 𝑥
⇒ 𝑦2 + 𝑦 = 2 𝐷 (1 , 1)
𝑦2 + 𝑦 − 2 = 0
(𝑦 + 2)(𝑦 − 1) = 0 0 x
𝑦 = −2 , 𝑦 = 1 (4 , −2)
∴ 𝑥 = (−2)2 = 4 , 𝑦 = −2 𝐶
𝑥 = (1)2 = 1 , 𝑦 = 1 𝑥+𝑦 =2
⇒ points of intersection (1,1) and (4, −2)
Shaded area = Area OABO
1
= ∫−2(𝑌𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 − 𝑌𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒 )𝑑𝑥
1
= ∫−2[(2 − 𝑦) − 𝑦 2 ]𝑑𝑥
1
= ∫−2(2 − 𝑦 − 𝑦 2 )𝑑𝑥

9
 1
𝑦2 𝑦3
= [2𝑦 − − ]
2 3 −2
9
= 2 sq. units.

Exercise
1) Find the area of the region bounded by the parabola 𝑦 2 = 16𝑥 and the line 𝑥 = 4

16𝑎2
2) 𝑥 2 = 4𝑎𝑦 and 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑠 (Ans: sq. units)
3

1
3) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 and the lines 𝑦 = |𝑥|. (Ans:3 sq . units)

16
4) 𝑦 2 = 2𝑥 + 1 and the line 𝑥 − 𝑦 − 1 = 0 (Ans: sq.units)
3

1
5) Curves 𝑦 = 𝑥 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 (Ans:2 sq.units)

6) Find the area enclosed by the curve 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎2 (𝑥 − 1) and the line 𝑦 = 4𝑎

7) Enclosed by the parabola 𝑥 2 = 6𝑦 and the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 16

4 16𝜋
(Ans:( + ) sq.units)
√3 3

8) Find the area of the circle 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 = 9 which is interior to the parabola

2𝜋 √3
𝑦 2 = 4𝑥. (Ans: ( 3 − ) sq.units)
2

9) The tangets at 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 3 on the curve 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 − 1 meet at T

a) Find the equations of those tangets and the coordinates of T.

b) Calculate the area of the region bounded by the curve and the tangents.

9
(Ans: 4 sq.units).
3
I.e. A= ∫02[(2𝑥 − 1) − (2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 − 1)]𝑑𝑥

3
B= ∫3 [(−4𝑥 + 8) − (2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 − 1)]𝑑𝑥
2
⇒ Area = 𝐴 + 𝐵

10