Math 121- Engineering Calculus 2

(Week 10-12)

Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc
(Rectangular and Polar Coordinates)

Prepared by: DALIA M. RECONALLA, PhD.

Faculty-in-charge
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.
Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)
We shall derive a formula for arc length using our standard
procedure: approximation followed by passage to a limit.
Consider the graph of y = f (x) over an interval [a, b].
Choose a partition P of [a, b] into N subintervals with
endpoints P : a = 𝑥0 < 𝑥1 < · · · < 𝑥𝑁 = b .
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Let 𝑃𝑖 = (𝑥𝑖 , f (𝑥𝑖 )) be the point on the graph above 𝑥𝑖 . Now

join these points by line segments 𝐿𝑖 = 𝑃𝑖−1 𝑃𝑖 . The
resulting curve L is called a polygonal approximation.
The length of L, which we denote |L|, is the sum of the
lengths | 𝐿𝑖 | of the segments:
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

The length of L, which we denote |L|, is the sum of the

lengths | 𝐿𝑖 | of the segments:
|L| = | 𝐿1 | + | 𝐿2 | + · · · + | 𝐿𝑁 | = 𝑁
𝑖=1 |𝐿𝑖 |
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

As may be expected, the polygonal approximations L approximate
the curve more and more closely as the width of the partition
decreases Based on this idea, we define the arc length s of the
graph to be the limit of the lengths |L| as the width ║P║ of the
partition tends to zero:
𝑵
Arc length s = lim 𝒊=𝟏 |𝐿𝑖 |
║P║→𝟎

The polygonal approximations improve as the widths of the subintervals decrease.

Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.
Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

To compute the arc length s, we must express the limit of

the polygonal approximations as an integral.

Figure below shows that the segment 𝐿𝑖 is the hypotenuse of a

right triangle of base 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥𝑖 - 𝑥𝑖−1 and height |f (𝑥𝑖 ) - f (𝑥𝑖−1 )|.
By the Pythagorean Theorem,
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

By the Pythagorean Theorem,

𝟐 𝟐
| 𝑳𝒊 | = ∆𝒙𝒊 + (f (𝒙𝒊 ) − f (𝒙𝒊−𝟏 ))
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.
Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

And therefore,

| 𝑳𝒊 | = ∆𝒙𝒊 𝟐 + (f ‘(𝒄𝒊 ) ∆𝒙𝒊 )2

= ∆𝒙𝒊 𝟐 ( 𝟏 + (f ‘(𝒄𝒊 ))2

= 𝟏 + (f ‘(𝒄𝒊 ) 2 ∆𝒙𝒊
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.
Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

We find that the length |L| is a Riemann sum for the

2
function 𝟏 + (f ‘(𝒄𝒊 )

|L| = | 𝐿1 | + | 𝐿2 | + · · · + | 𝐿𝑁 | = 𝑁
𝑖=1 𝟏 + (f ‘(𝒄𝒊 ) 2 ∆𝒙𝒊

This function is continuous, and hence integrable, so

the Riemann sums approach
𝑏
𝑎
1 + [𝑓′ 𝑥 ]2 𝑑𝑥
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.
Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Theorem: Formula for Arc Length. Assume that f (x)

exists and is continuous on [a, b]. Then the arc length
s of y = f (x) over [a, b] is equal to

𝒃
L= 𝒂
𝟏 + [𝒇′ 𝒙 ]𝟐 𝒅𝒙
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

For parametric equations, x = f(t) and y = f(t) and from
the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus,

𝑏
L= 𝑎
[𝑥 ′ 𝑡 ]2 + [𝑦 ′ 𝑡 ]2 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝐿 𝑏 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦 2
L= = 𝑎
( ) +( )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

If the arc is of the form y = f(x) or x = g(y) we obtain,

respectively:
𝑑𝐿 𝑑𝑦 2 𝑑𝐿 𝑑𝑥 2
= 1+ ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 1+ ( )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

𝑑𝐿 𝑑𝑦 2 𝑑𝐿 𝑑𝑥 2
From = 1+ ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 1+ ( )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦

Then
𝑑 𝑑𝑦 2
L= 𝑐
1+ ( ) 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑑 𝑑𝑥 2
= 𝑐
1+ ( ) 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Arc Length Differentials

From the figure:

(𝑑𝑠)2 = (𝑑𝑦)2 + (𝑑𝑥)2

𝒅𝒚 𝟐
ds = 𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.
Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Example 1: Find the arc length s of the graph of

1
f (x) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 −1 over [1, 3].
12
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.
Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Example 1: Find the arc length s of the graph of

1
f (x) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 −1 over [1, 3].(cont.)
12

Solution: Calculate first 1 + 𝑓′(𝑥)2 .

1 2
Since f ‘ (x) = 𝑥 − 𝑥 −2
4
2 1 2 −2 2 1 4 1
1 + 𝑓′(𝑥) = 1 + ( 𝑥 − 𝑥 ) =1+ ( 𝑥 − + 𝑥 −4 )
4 16 2
𝟑 1
Then the Arc Length s = 𝟏
1 + (4 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 −2 )2 𝒅𝒙
𝟑 𝟏 𝟒 𝟏
= 𝟏 𝟏𝟔
𝒙 − 𝟐 + 𝒙−𝟒 𝒅𝒙
𝟏
=
𝟑 (𝟒 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙−𝟐 )𝟐 𝒅𝒙
𝟏
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Solution to Ex. 1 cont..

3 1
Then the Arch Length s = 1 4
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 −2 𝑑𝑥
𝟏𝟕
=
𝟔
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Example 2. Use differentials to obtain an approximation of
the arc length of the graph of y = 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 from P(1, 3) to
Q(1.1, 3.52).

Solution: Using the equation of Arc Length Differentials,

𝒅𝒚
ds = 𝟏 + ( )𝟐 𝒅𝒙 , since y = 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 , dy/dx = 4x + 1,
𝒅𝒙

ds = 𝟏 + (4x + 1)𝟐 𝒅𝒙
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Solution to example 2 cont…
If x = 1,

dy/dx = 4x + 1 = 4(1) + 1 = 5 and

dx = 𝑄𝑥 − 𝑃𝑥 = 1.1 − 1 = 0.1

then, an approximation of the length of arc is

ds = 𝟏 + (5 )𝟐 𝟎. 𝟏 ≈ 𝟎. 𝟓𝟏
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

1 3 1
Example 3 . Find the length of the graph of x = 𝑦 +
3 4𝑦
7 67
from P( , 1) to Q( , 2).
12 24

Solution: The graph of x = g(y) is

shown below.
1 1
dx/dy = 3 3 𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 2
2 1
= 𝑦 −
4𝑦 2
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Solution to Example 3 cont.. Since x is a function of y, use
the equation L = 𝑑 1 + (𝑑𝑥 )2 𝑑𝑦 .
𝑐 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 2 1 2
First, compute 1 + ( ) = 1 + (𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 2
)
𝑑𝑦
41 1
= 1+𝑦 − +
2 16𝑦 4
1 1 1 2
= + 𝑦4 + = (𝑦 2 + )
2 16𝑦 4 4𝑦 2

Observing that y runs from y = 1 to y = 2 , then

𝑑 2 1 2
𝑑𝑥 2 2
L= 1 + ( ) 𝑑𝑦 = (𝑦 + 2
) 𝑑𝑦
𝑐 𝑑𝑦 1 4𝑦
2 2 1 𝟓𝟗
= 1
(𝑦 + 2) dy =
4𝑦 𝟐𝟒
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Rectangular Coordinates)

Exercise: Solve the problem the given problems below.

3
1. Calculate the arc length of y = 𝑥 2 from the point A(1, 1)
to B(2, 2 2 )

2.. Find the length of one arch of a cycloid, given that x =

a(𝜃 − sin 𝜃), y = a(1 − cos 𝜃) , 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋.
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc in Polar Coordinates

Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.
Length of Arc (Polar Coordinates)
From Engineeriing Calculus 1, the polar curve r = f (𝜃) has a
parametrization with 𝜃 as a parameter:

x = r cos 𝜃 = f (𝜃) cos 𝜃, y = r sin 𝜃 = f (𝜃) sin 𝜃

Using a prime to denote the derivative with respect to 𝜃,

we have
𝑑𝑥
x’(𝜃) = = -f (𝜃) sin 𝜃 + f ‘(𝜃) cos 𝜃
d𝜃
𝑑𝑦
y’(𝜃) = = f (𝜃) cos 𝜃 + f ‘(𝜃) sin 𝜃
d𝜃
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Polar Coordinates)

𝑑𝑥
x’(𝜃) = = -f (𝜃) sin 𝜃 + f ‘(𝜃) cos 𝜃
d𝜃
𝑑𝑦
y’(𝜃) = = f (𝜃) cos 𝜃 + f ‘(𝜃) sin 𝜃
d𝜃

The arc length is obtained by integrating x’(𝜃)2 + y’(𝜃)2 .

Straightforward algebra shows that

x’(𝜃)2 + y’(𝜃)2 = f (𝜃)2 + f ’(𝜃)2 and thus

𝜷 𝜷 𝒅𝒓
Arc Length, s = 𝜶
f (𝜽)𝟐 + f ’(𝜽)𝟐 d𝜽 = 𝜶
𝒓𝟐 + ( )𝟐 d𝜽
𝒅𝜽
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Polar Coordinates)

Example 1: Find the total length of the circle r = 2a cos 𝜃
for a > 0.

Solution In this case, f (𝜃) = 2a cos 𝜃 and

f (𝜃)2 + f ’(𝜃)2 = (2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)2 +[2𝑎 −𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ] 2
= (4𝑎2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + (4𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃) = 4𝑎2
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Polar Coordinates)

Solution to Example 1 cont…
The total length of this circle of radius a :
𝜷 𝟐 𝟐
Total Length, s = 𝜶
f (𝜽) + f ’(𝜽) d𝜽

𝝅
= 𝟎
4𝑎2 d𝜽

𝝅
= 𝟎
2a d𝜽 = 𝟐𝝅𝒂 linear units
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Polar Coordinates)

Example 2: Determine the length of r= 𝜃, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤1.

Solution: Below is the quick sketch of the graph of r= 𝜃.

Given that r= 𝜃, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛

𝑑𝑟
= 1,
𝑑𝜃
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Polar Coordinates)

Solution to Example 2 cont…

𝑑𝑟 𝜷 𝒅𝒓 𝟐
Since = 1, from the equation L = 𝜶
𝒓𝟐 + ( ) d𝜽
𝑑𝜃 𝒅𝜽

𝟏 𝟏
L= 𝟎
𝜽𝟐 + (𝟏)𝟐 d𝜽 = 𝟎
𝜽𝟐 + 𝟏 d𝜽

The resulting equation needs trigo. Substition:

Let 𝜃 = tanx, d𝜃 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
if 𝜃 = 0, 0 = tan x, then x = 0
𝜋
if 𝜃 = 1 , 1 = tan x, then x =
4
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Polar Coordinates)

Solution to Example 2 cont…
I𝑓 𝜃 = tanx, d𝜃 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 then
1
L = 0 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 2 + 1 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃 + 1 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥
1 1
therefore L = 0 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑠𝑒𝑐 3𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝜋
1
L= (𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑥 + ln | sec 𝑥 + tan 𝑥|) | 4
0
2
1
= ( 2 + ln(1 + 2) linear units
2
Applications of the Definite Integral …cont.

Length of Arc (Polar Coordinates)

Exercises: Find the length of arc of the given polar curve.

1. The entire curve r = 1 – sin 𝜃

2. r = 𝑒 2𝜃 ; 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝜃 = 0 to 𝜃 = 4
 End of Presentation
References:
1. Leithold, Louis (2000). The Calculus. 7th edition. Addison-Wesley Publishing
2. Love, C.E & Rainville, E.D Differential and Integral Calculus. 6th Edition. The
Macmillan Company. New York
3. Rowagski, Jon (2008). Calculus. W. H. Freeman and Company. New York
4. Tan, Soo T (2010). Calculus. BROOKS/COLE, Cengage Learning. Canada