Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT

UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com

HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Area below the curve y=f(x) above x-axis on the closed interval [a, b] is  f x dx
a

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

If f is a continuous function defined on a closed interval [a, b] and F is an antiderivative of f, then
b

 f ( x) dx  F (b)  F (a )  F ( x ) a
b

Example 1 Area under a curve

3 e
1
a.  x dx b.  x dx
2

1 1

Solution
a. The shaded region in the graph below shows the geometric representation.

10

x
–1 1 2 3
–

3 3
1 3 1 3 1 3 1 26
1 x dx  3 x 1  3 (3 )  3 (1 )  9  3  3
2

b. The shaded region in the graph below shows the geometric representation.

x
–1 1 e
–

e
1
 x dx  ln x   ln e  ln1  1  0  1
e
1
1
Example 2 Graph f ( x)  x  3 and use the graph to find

 x  3 dx .
5

Solution The graph of f ( x)  x  3 is shown below.

R1 R2
x
–5 –3 –1
–

0 3 0 3 0
1 2  1 2 

5
x  3 dx    x  3 dx 
5
3 x  3 dx   2 x  3x  5  2 x  3x  3  2  4.5  6.5 

Example 3 Draw a geometric representation of

3

 (x  4 x  3) dx then evaluate the definite integral using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
2

Solution The shaded region in the graph below shows the geometric representation.

x
–1 1 2 3
–

3 3
1 3  1 3  1 3 
1 ( x  4 x  3) dx  3 x  2 x  3x 1   3 (3)  2(3)  3(3)    3 (1)  2(1)  3(1) 
2 2 2 2

1  4
 (9  18  9)    2  3   
3  3

This definite integral is negative because the shaded area lies below the x-axis.
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Net Area.

3 1 3

x
–1 1 2 3
1 -1 1

x x
–1 1 2 3 –1 1 2 3
– – –

Net area is positive because more Net area is negative because more area Net area is zero because the area above
lies below the x-axis and below the x-axis is the same.
area lies above the x-axis.

Example 4 Draw a geometric representation of

3

 (x  4 x  3) dx and then calculate the net and gross areas.

2

Solution The shaded region in the graph below shows the geometric representation.

3
Region 1

x
–1 1 2 3
–
Region 2

To find the gross area we need to evaluate the integral that represents each shaded region.

1 1
1  1  4
Region 1   ( x  4 x  3) dx  x 3  2 x 2  3x     2  3   0 
2

0
3 0  3  3

In Example 9.6, we found the area of region 2 to be  4 3 . Therefore the gross area is

1 3
Area of Region1  Area of Region 2   ( x 2  4 x  3) dx   ( x 2  4 x  3) dx
0 1

4 4 4 4 8
    
3 3 3 3 3

The net area is just the sum of the two integrals,

3 1 3
4  4
 ( x  4 x  3) dx   ( x  4 x  3) dx   ( x  4 x  3) dx      0 .
2 2 2

0 0 1
3  3
Since the net area is zero, we know there is the same amount of area above the x-axis as there is below the x-axis.
Notice that calculating the function over the entire interval is another method of obtaining net area.

Area Between Two Curves

The area between f(x) and g(x).

x
a b

Area Between Two Curves

On the closed interval [a , b] , the area between two continuous functions f(x) and g(x),
where
f ( x )  g ( x ) , is given by

 [ f ( x)  g ( x)]
a
dx

The area between two curves can be remembered as

b

 (top
a
function - bottom function) dx
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 5 Find the area between f ( x )  x 2  1 and g ( x )  x on [0, 2].

Solution First lets graph both functions over [0 2].

x
–1 1 2
–

Since f ( x ) is the top function and g ( x ) is the bottom function, the definite integral, and thus the area between the
two curves is

2 2 2

( x  1)  x  dx    x  x  1 dx  x 3  x 2  x   (2)3  (2)2  2  0   2  2 

1 1 1 1 8 8

2 2

0 0
3 2 0 3 2 3 3

Sometimes the two given curves will intersect at one or more points, thus forming an area bounded by the curves as
shown in Figure below.

x
a b

To find the area bounded by two curves we need to find the limits of integration. We do this by locating the points
where the curves intersect. The definite integral for Figure 9.10 is represented by

  f ( x)  g ( x) dx
a
Example 6 Find the area of the region bounded by y  x 2  2 x  8 and y  2 x  8 .

Solution First, we need to graph the two functions on the same coordinate plane.

(5, 7)
6

x
–2 1 3 5
-2

(–1, –5)
-6

From the graph we notice that y  2 x  3 is the top function and y  x 2  2 x  8 is the bottom function. In addition,
the points of intersection show that the lower limit of integration is x = –1 and the upper limit of integration is x = 5.
Thus, the definite integral is

5 5 5

 (2 x  3)  ( x  2 x  8) dx   2 x  3  x  2 x  8 dx    x  4 x  5 dx
2 2 2

1 1 1
5
1  1  1 
  x 3  2 x 2  5 x    (125)  2(25)  5(5)    ( 1)  2(1)  5( 1) 
3  1 3  3 
100 8 108
    36
3 3 3
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 7 Find the area of the region bounded by f ( x )  x and g ( x )  x 3  8 x .

Solution First, we need to graph the two functions on the same coordinate plane.

R1 2

(3, 3)
2

x
-4 –2 2 4
-2
(–3, –3)
R2
-6

There are two bounded regions (R1 and R2) produced by these curves. Notice that the top function of R1 is g(x) and the
top function of R2 is f(x). Consequently we will need to set up an integral to find the area of R1, another integral to find
the area of R2, and then add the results.
0 3
R1   ( x 3  8 x  x ) dx R2   ( x 3  8 x  x ) dx
3 0
0 3
  ( x 3  9 x ) dx   ( x 3  9 x ) dx
3 0
0 3
1 4 9 2 1 4 9 2
 x  x   x  x 
4 2  3 4 2 0
1 9  1 9
 (81)  (9)
 0   (81)  (9) 
4 2  4 2
81 81
  20.25   20.25
4 4

Now adding the two results together we get

R1  R2  20.25  20.25  40.5

Example 8:
Find the area trapped between the curve y  x2  x  6 and the x-axis.
Solution:
Step 1: Start by finding where the curve crosses the x-axis.
We do this by solving the equation x 2  x  6  0 .
This can be solved by factorising: (x + 2)(x – 3) = 0
i.e. x = -2 or x = 3 y

10

Step 2: Sketch the curve.

This can be done easily as we know where it crosses the x-axis and,
5

from the equation, the curve crosses the y-axis at -6. It is also a
x
happy graph!
-4 -2 2 4

I have shaded in the area we are trying to find, i.e. the area trapped -5
between the
curve and the x-axis.
(You will see why it is important to sketch the curve in a later -10 example!)

Step 3: Use integration (between the points found in step 1) to find the area:
3
Area =  (x  x  6)dx
2

2

3
 x3 x 2   33 32   (2)3 ( 2) 2 
=    6x     6  3     (6  2) 
3 2  2  3 2   3 2 
substitute in top limit substitute in bottom limit

= (-13.5) – (7 13 )
= -20 56
The integral has produced a negative answer as the area we have found is underneath the
x-axis.
We say that the area is 20 56
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE
y

Finding other areas

6

Example 9: 4

Find the area shown shaded in the diagram, bounded by the

2

y-axis, the line y = 3 and the curve y  x2  2 .

0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 x

Step 1: Find where the curve intersects with the line:

The curve y  x2  2 crosses the line y = 3 when:
x2  2  3
i.e. x2  1 . y

As x > 0 in our diagram, we must have the solution x = 1.

The point of intersection is therefore (1, 3). 6

Step 2: Find the area underneath the curve.

This area is: 2

1
1
 x3 
0
x
    2x
2 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
( x 2) dx
3 0

=  13  2    0 
= 2 13
y

Step 3: Find the area of the rectangle:

6

Area of rectangle = 3
4

0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 x

Step 4: Find the original area by subtracting the area under the curve from the area of the rectangle.

Required area = 3 - 2 13 = 2
3
Example 10:

Find the area of the region bounded by the graphs of f x   2  x 2 and g x   x .

Solution:

2 f(x)
g(x)
1 (1,1)

0
y

-2 (-2,-2)

-2 -1.414 0 1 1.414
x

The two lines intersect at the points  2,2 and 1,1 since

f x   g x   2  x 2  x  x 2  x  2  0  x  2, 1.
Thus, the area is

 2  x 
b 1 1
A   f  x   g  x dx   2 x
2
 x dx  2
 x dx
a 2 2
1
 x3 x 2 
    2 x
 3 2  2
9

2
 Cambridge Physics PhD Tutor IB DSE IGCSE SAT
UC Math MA, HKU Chemist hinwahk@gmail.com
HKU 1st Hons Engineer 93197825 AP MCAT GCE

Example 11 Find the area of the region bounded by the graphs of f x   3x3  x 2  10x and

g x    x 2  2 x .
Solution:

f(x)
g(x)

(0,0) (2,0)
0
-8 (-2,-8)
y

-2 0 2
x

The two lines intersect at the points  2,8 , 0,0  and 2,0 since

f x   g x  3x3  x 2  10x   x 2  2 x  3x3  12x  0  x  2, 0, 2. Thus, the area is

2 0 2
A  f x   g x dx    f x   g x dx   g x   f x dx
2 2 0

 3x     x   
0 0
 3
 x 2  10 x   x 2  2 x dx  2
 2 x  3x3  x 2  10 x dx
2 2

 3x   
0 2
 3
 12 x dx    3x3  12 x dx
2 0
0 2
 3x 4 2   3x 4 
  6x     6 x 2   12  24    12  24 
 4 2  4  02
 24
Your Turn!
1) Find the area enclosed by the curve y  x2  5x  6 and the x-axis. (Answer: 1/6)
2) Find the area enclosed by the curve y  x  4 and the x-axis.
2
(Hint: factorise by completing
the square, and make sure that you get 2 solutions! The area you need is 10 23 )
3) Find the area enclosed by the curve y = 2 x 2  6 x and the x-axis. (Hint: factorise by taking out
the common factor 2x. The curve crosses the x-axis at 2 places. The area you want is 9).
4) Find the area enclosed by the curve y  2 x  9 x  4 and the x-axis.
2
(Hint: remember this is a
sad graph! The area is 14.3 to 3sf).