Lauren Hunkele and Alexandra King

AP Calculus AB
Mrs. Karen Mullins
15 December 2014
2nd Quarter Cross-Sections Project
1. Our group consisted of Lauren Hunkele and Alexandra King.
2. The base of our solid was bounded by f(x)=x+1 and f(x)=x2-1. Our cross sections were
squares perpendicular to the x-axis.
3. How do you determine the length of the segment (base of cross-section) for a particular
x-value? Since we made a physical model and planned to use 12 cross-sections, we divided
the horizontal bounds into 13 equal sections divided by vertical lines. We then measured
those lines to find the base lengths of the cross-sections. Without making a model to scale,
one could also find the points on each function for that particular x-value and use the
distance formula to find the length of the segment between them. What is the formula for
the area of your groups shape? The shape of our cross-sections was a square. The formula
for the area of a square is A=bh. Since the base and height are equal for a square, we said the
area was A=b2. What would change if the cross-sections were perpendicular to the other
axis? To find the volume of the shape, the integral would have to be taken with respect to the
y-axis rather than the x-axis. The functions would have to be changed so they could be
integrated with respect to y (we would have had to solve for x). Where will this topic make
the jump from geometry to calculus? The concept of cross-sections being used to
determine the volume of a shape can be understood with a calculus background, but actually

finding that volume requires the use of integrals, which makes the switch into calculus.
Integrals also allow one to find the volume of strangely shaped objects modeled by curves
rather than standard geometric shapes such as cylinders. How could the exact volume of the
solid be determined? The exact volume of the solid could be determined by adding the
areas of an infinite number of cross-sections. We model this using integrals so we do not
have to sit forever adding cross sections. We take the formula for the area of one cross
section with respect to x, A=(-x2+x+2)2, and integrate that with the bounds of the base of the
solid with respect to the x-axis to find the volume of the object. This integral is: !
2

(x

The final volume of the solid is 8.1 units3.

+ x + 2)2 dx