Section 7.

3: Arc Length and Surface

Area
Week 7 Objectives
— Compute the length of a curve using the arc length
formula.
— Find the area of surfaces of revolution.
Arc Length
— There are curves we can find the length for, for instance
line segments, all we need to do is to bring a ruler and
put it against the line to find the length.
https://brainly.com/question/10750824

— In general, we can find the length of a polygon as it

consists of several line segments.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_chain
 What about finding the length
of the following curve?
y

a b x

Elementary Idea: Bring a string, fit it to the curve then stretch it against a ruler

Concrete Idea: Use the length of polygons (line segements) to approximate the length
of the curve (Riemann Sum idea again!).
 What about finding the length
of the following curve?
Let the curve be described by the function y=f(x) between x=a
and x=b. y

a b x
— Question: What is the length of this curve?
— Answer: We implement a similar idea to the one we used
when we were tying to find the area of a planar region under
a non-negative curve.
— Step 1: Divide the interval [a, b] into equal subintervals,
!"#
each of length ∆𝑥 = .
$
— Step 2: From each ending point of a subinterval, draw a
vertical line, cutting the curve in a point.
— Step 3: Now consider the points of step 2:
— 𝑃! 𝑥! , 𝑦" , 𝑃# 𝑥# , 𝑦# , … , 𝑃$ 𝑥$ , 𝑦$ , where 𝑥! = 𝑎, 𝑥$ =
𝑏 and 𝑓 𝑥% = 𝑦% .
— Step 4: Consider the line segments 𝑃% 𝑃& , 𝑃& 𝑃' , … 𝑃$"& 𝑃$
— Remark: The length of the polygon consisting of the line
segments above: 𝑃!𝑃# … 𝑃$ approximates the length of
the curve.

Polygon
Curve
— Step 5: The length of one approximating line segment is:
. |𝑃("& 𝑃( | = ∆𝑥 ' + 𝑦( − 𝑦("& '

' Pythagorean Theorem

' )! ")!"# is the key to the length
= Δ𝑥 1+
*+ formula.

)! ")!"# '
= Δ𝑥 1 + ,
*+
where 𝑦( = 𝑓 𝑥( and 𝑦("& = 𝑓(𝑥("& ).
Recall: The Mean Value
Theorem
— How can we simplify the expression

)! ")!"# ' , +! ",(+!"#) '

|𝑃("& 𝑃( | = Δ𝑥 1 + *+
= Δ𝑥 1 + +! "+!"#
?

— We will borrow a theorem we learned in Calculus I, to

write the length of one approximating line segment in
terms of the function f(x).
Mean Value Theorem: Suppose f(x) is continuous on [a,b] and
differentiable on (a,b), then there exists a number c in (a,b) such that,
&
𝑓 𝑏 − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑓 𝑐 =
𝑏−𝑎
— Therefore, given that the curve we are trying to compute its
length is continuous on 𝑥("& , 𝑥( and differential on
(𝑥("& , 𝑥( ), then there exists a number 𝑥(∗ in the interval
(𝑥("& , 𝑥( ) such that Where 𝑓 𝑥! = 𝑦! and
𝑓 𝑥!"# = 𝑦!"#
𝑓 𝑥( − 𝑓 𝑥("&
𝑓 0
𝑥(∗ =
𝑥( − 𝑥("&
This is Δ𝑥

(! '(!"# +
Thus, the equation |𝑃%'#𝑃% | = Δ𝑥 1 + )*
reduces to:
+
|𝑃%'#𝑃% | = Δ𝑥 1 + 𝑓& 𝑥%∗
— Step 6: The total approximation is thus given by
𝑃% 𝑃& + 𝑃& 𝑃' + 𝑃' 𝑃1 + ⋯ + 𝑃$"& 𝑃$
$
'
= Δ𝑥 6 1 + 𝑓0 𝑥(∗ Riemann Sum
(2&
— Step 7: The length of the curve is obtained by:
$ !
'
L = lim Δ𝑥 6 1 + 𝑓 0 𝑥(∗ =; 1 + 𝑓′ 𝑥 ' 𝑑𝑥
3→5 #
(2&

Limit of a
Riemann Sum
 Theorem: The Arc Length
Formula

If 𝑓 0 𝑥 is continuous on 𝑎, 𝑏 , then the length of the

curve 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏, is Leibniz Notation

! ' 𝑑𝑥 ! 6) '
𝐿= ∫# 1 + 𝑓′ 𝑥 = ∫# 1+ 6+
𝑑𝑥

NOTE: we ask for f(x) to be differentiable, otherwise we may not apply the MVT to
derive the arc length formula. We also ask for f’(x) to be continuous so that the function
1 + 𝑓′ 𝑥 $ is integrable on [𝑎, 𝑏]
Example 1.
— Find the length of the arc of the semi-cubical parabola
𝑦 ' = 𝑥 1 between the points (1,1) and (4,8).
— Solution: We first need to express y in terms of x.
Since on the interval [1,4], 𝑦 is positive, we get:
1
𝑦= 𝑥'
— To apply the formula, we need to find the derivative,
𝑑𝑦 3
= 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2
 Example 1 Continued
— So, the arc length formula gives:
7 7
'
𝑑𝑦 9
; 1+ 𝑑𝑥 = ; 1 + 𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 4
& &
— To evaluate this integral, we use u-substitution:
- - -
— Let u = 1 + . 𝑥, then 𝑑𝑢 = . 𝑑𝑥. So when 𝑥 = 1, 𝑢 = 1+. 1
#/ -
= .
and when 𝑥 = 4, 𝑢 = 1 + . (4) = 10.
% & % #) % $ #) * 9 !
— Thus, 𝐿= 1+ 𝑥𝑑𝑥= ∫#'/% 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = '/$
𝑢 8 = 10"
∫# % & & ' $+
#'/%
!
#' " :
− 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
%
 Example 2
#
— Find the length of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 % + from
'$,"
𝑥 = 1 to 𝑥 = 2.
-. #
— We first need to find the derivative: = 4𝑥 ' − .
-, #/,!
— Clearly the derivative is continuous on [1,2], thus we can use the arc length
formula:
$ $
$ $
1 1 1
𝐿 = F 1 + 4𝑥 ' − 𝑑𝑥 = F 1 + 4𝑥 ' $ − + 𝑑𝑥
16𝑥 ' 2 16𝑥 '
# #
$ $ $
$ $
1 1 1 1
=F 4𝑥 ' $ + + 𝑑𝑥 = F 4𝑥 ' + 𝑑𝑥 = F 4𝑥 ' + 𝑑𝑥 =
2 16𝑥 ' 16𝑥 ' 16𝑥 '
# # #
$
1 1 1 3
= (𝑥 % − ) H = 16 − −1+ = 15 + 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
32𝑥 $ # 128 32 128
Example 3
— The figure below shows a telephone wire hanging
between two poles at x =-b and x=b. It takes the shape
# 8 $/&98 "$/&
of a catenary with equation 𝑦 = 𝑐 + '
. Find
the integral that gives the length of the wire (Do Not
Evaluate).
Example 3 Continued…
— The shape of the catenary is the pink curve hanging
between both poles. Clearly the function describing
this curve is continuous as well as its derivative. Thus,
we need to find its derivative to apply the arc length
formula:
+ +
"
𝑑𝑦 𝑎 1 + 1 "+ 𝑒# − 𝑒 #
= 𝑒# − 𝑒 # =
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑎 𝑎 2
Recall: Chain rule Recall: Chain rule
, 1 1 , , 1 1 ,
"0
𝑒0 = 𝑒0 𝑒 = − 𝑒0
𝑎 𝑎
Example 3 ConHnues
— Thus, the length of the wire is:
+ + '
!
𝑒# − 𝑒 "#
𝐿=; 1+ 𝑑𝑥
"! 2
Surface Areas
— We know how to find the area of a planar region (under
a non-negative curve or bounded between curves) using
definite integrals.

— What if the region is not planar?

— For example, we know how to find the area of the lateral surface of a circular
cylinder. All we need to do is to cut open through a line on the cylinder parallel
to its axis. When you cut open, you get a rectangle whose height, h, is the same
as the height of the cylinder and width is the circumference of the circular
base, 2𝜋𝑟. Thus,

Lateral Surface Area = 2𝜋𝑟ℎ

Elementary idea: The lateral surface area of a
cylinder is the area of a planar region, namely the
rectangle requiring the same amount of paint to
color.
Surfaces of Revolution
— In this course, we are interested in evaluating the
surface area of surfaces of revolution.
— A surface of revolution is a surface obtained by rotating
a curve about a line.
— Recall: The lateral surface of a circular cylinder is
obtained by rotating a line about another line parallel
to it. That is, we are ONLY INTERESTED IN THE
OUTER LAYER of the cylinder.
— ⚠ Do not confuse a solid of revolution (a planar
region rotated about a line) with a surface of
revolution (a curve rotated about a line)⚠
 What happens if we rotate a line about a line which is
not parallel to it? (Let us consider the following two
cases):
Cases I. A line intersecting the II. A line not intersecting the
line of revolution line of revolution

Surface of Revolution Cone with radius r and Band (Big cone with a smaller
Shape slant height l. one taken out) with slant height
l, upper radius r1 and lower
radius r2
Surface Area When you cut open, we get The area of the band is:
a sector of a circle whose Area of bigger cone - Area of smaller cone
area is: 𝑆 = 𝜋𝑟" 𝑙 + 𝑙! − 𝜋𝑟! 𝑙!
! " "#$% ! = 𝜋 𝑟" − 𝑟! 𝑙! + 𝑟" 𝑙
𝑆= 𝑙 𝜃 = = 𝜋𝑟𝑙,
" "% = 𝜋 𝑟! + 𝑟" 𝑙
 RECALL
— Area of a sector of a circle is
& ' 𝜃, where 𝜃 :8$;<= >, #?@ 'C?
radius of the sector = =
' ?#6(AB >, B8@<>? :

Arc of the sector

Angle of the sector Radius of the sector

 DerivaHon of the Area of the
Band
— Again the area of the band is
𝑆 = 𝜋𝑟Q 𝑙 + 𝑙R − 𝜋𝑟R 𝑙R
— Our goal is to simplify this formula. From similar triangles, we
have
𝑙& 𝑟&
=
𝑙& + 𝑙 𝑟'
This gives 𝑙& 𝑟' = 𝑟& 𝑙& + 𝑙 , that is
𝑟&
𝑟' − 𝑟& 𝑙& = 𝑟& 𝑙 ⟹ 𝑙& = 𝑙
𝑟' − 𝑟&
?#
So, 𝑆 = 𝜋 𝑟' − 𝑟& 𝑙& + 𝜋𝑟' 𝑙 = 𝜋 𝑟' − 𝑟& ?'"?#
𝑙 + 𝜋𝑟' 𝑙. Thus,
𝑆 = 𝜋 𝑟& + 𝑟' 𝑙
Area of a Surface of Revolution
— What if we want to find the surface area of a surface of
revolution obtained by rotating a curve which is not a
line?
— Idea: Use the ideas we used to find the arc length.
— Step 1: Divide the interval [a, b] into equal subintervals,
!"#
each of length ∆𝑥 = .
$

Surface of revolution
— Step 2: From each ending point of a subinterval, draw a vertical line, cutting the
curve in a point.
— Step 3: Now consider the points of step 2:
— 𝑃) 𝑥) , 𝑦2 , 𝑃# 𝑥# , 𝑦# , … , 𝑃3 𝑥3 , 𝑦3 , where 𝑥) = 𝑎, 𝑥3 = 𝑏 and 𝑓 𝑥! = 𝑦! .
— Step 4: Approximate the surface area of the surface of revolution using sum of
areas of bands.
Recall the area of a band is 𝜋 𝑟# + 𝑟$ 𝑙. Thus,
3
𝑆04452,!6078 = X 𝜋 𝑓(𝑥!"# + 𝑓 𝑥! |𝑃!"# 𝑃! |
!9#

$
`= Δ𝑥 ∑3!9# 𝜋 𝑦!"# + 𝑦! 1+ 𝑓1 𝑥!∗

$
Recall: |𝑃!"# 𝑃! | = Δ𝑥 1 + 𝑓 1 𝑥!∗
 Remarks
— When Δ𝑥 is small, 𝑓 𝑥( = 𝑦( ≈ 𝑓 𝑥(∗ (since all the points in
a subinterval are very close and f is continuous). Similarly,
𝑓 𝑥("& = 𝑦("& ≈ 𝑓 𝑥(∗ . Thus, we can write 𝑦[\R + 𝑦[ =
2𝑓 𝑥(∗ .
— Thus, we can write
$
'
𝑆#DD?>+(E#<8 = Δ𝑥 6 𝜋2𝑓 𝑥(∗ 1+ 𝑓0 𝑥(∗
(2&
— Now, taking the limit as 𝑛 → ∞, gives the actual surface area:
$ <
+
𝑆 = lim Δ𝑥 J 𝜋2𝑓 𝑥%∗ 1 + 𝑓 & 𝑥%∗ = K 2𝜋𝑓 𝑥 1 + 𝑓& 𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥
$→9 ;
%:#
 Surface Area
— Let f be a positive function and have continuous derivative. The
surface area of the surface obtained by rotating the curve 𝑦 =
𝑓 𝑥 , between 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏 about the x-axis is given by:
<
𝑆 = K 2𝜋𝑓 𝑥 1 + 𝑓& 𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥
;
Or, in Leibniz notation:
< +
𝑑𝑦
𝑆 = K 2𝜋𝑦 1 + 𝑑𝑥
; 𝑑𝑥
Or symbolically, we can write: 𝑆 = ∫ 2𝜋𝑦𝑑𝑠,

=( +
The distance between the curve
where d𝑠 = 1+ =*
𝑑𝑥. and the x-axis
 Surface Area
— Let 𝑥 = 𝑔 𝑦 , 𝑐 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝑑. The area of the surface of revolution
obtained by rotating the curve about the y-axis is:
<
𝑆 = K 2𝜋𝑔 𝑦 1 + 𝑔′ 𝑦 + 𝑑𝑦
;
— Or, in Leibniz notation:
= +
𝑑𝑥
𝑆 = K 2𝜋𝑥 1 + 𝑑𝑦
> 𝑑𝑦
— Or, symbolically, we write: 𝑆 = ∫ 2𝜋𝑥𝑑𝑠,

=* +
where d𝑠 = 1+ 𝑑𝑦. The distance between the curve and the
=(
y-axis.
 Example 4
— The curve 𝑦 = 4 − 𝑥 $ , −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 is an arc of the circle 𝑥 $ + 𝑦 $ = 4. Find the
area of the surface obtained by rotating this arc about the x-axis.
# -. $
— Solution: we know that 𝑆 = ∫ 2𝜋𝑦𝑑𝑠, explicitly, ∫"# 2𝜋𝑦 1+ 𝑑𝑥 .
-,
𝑑𝑦 2𝑥 𝑥
=− =−
𝑑𝑥 2 4−𝑥 $ 4 − 𝑥$
— Thus, using the surface area formula, we get:
# $ #
𝑑𝑦 𝑥 $
F 2𝜋𝑦 1 + 𝑑𝑥 = F 2𝜋𝑦 1 + − 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 4− 𝑥$
"# "#

# ," # $ #
= 2𝜋 ∫"# 4− 𝑥$ 1+ 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝜋 ∫"# 4 − 𝑥 $ 𝑑𝑥 = 4𝜋 ∫"# 1𝑑𝑥 = 8𝜋
%"," %","

Note: The surface is a portion of a sphere of radius 2.

Example 5
— The arc of the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 ' from 1,1 to (2,4) is
rotated about the y-axis. Find the area of the resulting
surface.
— Solution: we know that 𝑆 = ∫ 2𝜋𝑥𝑑𝑠,
=(
— Method 1: Using 𝑦 = 𝑥 + and =* = 2𝑥, we have
+ +
𝑑𝑦
𝑆 = ∫ 2𝜋𝑥𝑑𝑠 = K 2𝜋𝑥 1+ 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥
#
+

= 2𝜋 K 𝑥 1 + 4𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥
#
 Example 5 Continued…
To evaluate the integral, we need to use the substitution
method. Let 𝑢 = 1 + 4𝑥 ' , 𝑑𝑢 = 8𝑥𝑑𝑥, thus
! #+
$ ; #+ ; $ ;
𝑆= 2𝜋 ∫# 𝑥 1 + 4𝑥 $ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑥 8 " = 17 17 − 5 5
% < % ' < /

=* #
— Method 2: Using 𝑥 = 𝑦 and = , we have:
=( + (
% $ $
𝑑𝑥 1
𝑆 = ∫ 2𝜋𝑥𝑑𝑠 = F 2𝜋𝑥 1+ 𝑑𝑦 = 2𝜋 F 𝑦 1 + 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦 4𝑦
# #
! #+
% ; #+ ; $ ;
𝜋 ∫# 4𝑦 + 1 𝑑𝑦 = ∫< 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑥 "8 = 17 17 − 5 5
% % ' < /

Let 𝑢 = 4𝑦 + 1
𝑑𝑢 = 4𝑑𝑥