ARC LENGTH

Suppose that a curve C is defined by the

equation y = f(x), where f is continuous
and a ≤ x ≤ b.
ARC LENGTH FUNCTION
The differential of arc length is:
2
 dy 
ds = 1 +   dx
 dx 
ARC LENGTH
ARC LENGTH FUNCTION
ARC LENGTH FUNCTION Example 4

Find the arc length function for the curve

y = x2 – ⅛ ln x from P0(1, 1) to PF(3, f(3))
.
ARC LENGTH FUNCTION Example 4

If f(x)= x2 – ⅛ ln x, then
1
▪ .f '( x) = 2 x −
8x
2
 1 
▪ 1. +  f '( x)  = 1 +  2 x −  = 1 + 4 x − +
2 2 1 1
 
2
8 x 2 64 x
1 1
= 4x + +
2

2 64 x 2
2
 1 
=  2x + 
▪ .1 +  f '( x)2 = 2 x + 1  8x 
8x
ARC LENGTH FUNCTION Example 4

Thus, the arc length function

is given by:
s ( x) =  1 +  f '(t )  dt
x 2
1

 1
=
x
 2t − dt
1
 8t 
= t + ln t 1
2 1 x
8

= x + 18 ln x − 1
2
ARC LENGTH FUNCTION Example 4

For instance, the arc length along

the curve from (1, 1) to (3, f(3)) is:

s(3) = 3 + 18 ln 3 − 1
2

ln 3
= 8+
8
 8.1373
ARC LENGTH FORMULA
If f’ is continuous on [a, b], then the length
of the curve y = f(x), a ≤ x ≤ b is:

L= 1 +  f '( x) dx

b 2
a

2
 dy 
L=
b
1 +   dx
a
 dx 
ARC LENGTH Example 1

Find the length of the arc of the semicubical parabola y2 = x3

between the points (1, 1)
and (4, 8).
ARC LENGTH Example 1

For the top half of the curve,

we have:

y=x 32

dy 3 1 2
=2x
dx
Thus, the arc length formula gives:

2
 dy 
L 1 +   dx =  1 + 4 x dx
4 4
9
1
 dx  1

If we substitute u = 1 + (9/4)x,
then du = (9/4) dx.
When x = 1, u = 13/4.
When x = 4, u = 10.
ARC LENGTH Example 1

Therefore,
10
L= 4

9 13 4 u du
3 2 10
=  u 
4
9
2
3
13 4

= 8 10 32
−( )
13 3 2 
27  4 
= 1
27 (80 10 − 13 13 )