

PLANE AREAS BY
INTEGRATION

A. AREA UNDER A CURVE

The figure below shows part of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) from 𝑥 = 𝑎 to 𝑥 = 𝑏. The
area A bounded by the curve, the x-axis, and the lines 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏 is to
be determined. The interval [a,b] is divided into n sections of equal width, 𝛥𝑥,
and 𝑛 rectangles are then drawn to approximate the area 𝐴 under the curve.

Thus the area of the first rectangle is

𝐴 = 𝑓 (𝑥1 ). ∆(𝑥1 )
An approximation for the area under the curve, between 𝑥 = 𝑎 to 𝑥 = 𝑏, can
be found by summing the areas of 𝑛 rectangles.
𝐴 = 𝑓(𝑥1 ). ∆(𝑥1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥2 ). ∆(𝑥2 ) + 𝑓 (𝑥3 ). ∆(𝑥3 ) + ⋯ … + 𝑓 (𝑥𝑛 ). ∆(𝑥𝑛 )
Or
𝑖=𝑛

𝐴 ≈ ∑ 𝑓 (𝑥𝑖 ). ∆(𝑥𝑖 )
𝑖=1

In order emphasize that the sum extends over the interval [𝑎, 𝑏], the sum is
written as
𝑥=𝑎

𝐴 ≈ ∑ 𝑓 (𝑥 ). ∆ ( 𝑥 )
𝑥=𝑏

As ∆(𝑥 ) gets increasingly smaller, i.e., it ‘approaches zero’, or Δx → 0,

𝑥=𝑎

𝐴 = lim ∑ 𝑓 (𝑥 ). ∆𝑥
∆𝑥→0
𝑥=𝑏

Or, expressed as an integral,

𝑏
𝐴 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥
𝑎

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Steps to follow in calculating the area under a curve 𝑓(𝑥).

1. Sketch the area.
2. Determine the boundaries 𝑎 and 𝑏.
3. Set up the definite integral.
4. Integrate.

Solved Exercises:

1. Find the area in the first quadrant bounded by 𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 and the 𝑥-axis.
A. Intercepts
When 𝑦 = 0, 0 = 𝑥 (4 − 𝑥 ); 𝑥 = 0, 4
when 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 0
B. Determine the vertex of the parabola
𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ; 𝑦 − 4 = −(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4)
𝑦 − 4 = −(𝑥 − 2)2
Hence, vertex is the point (2, 4).
C. Draw the curve

D. Solve for the area

4 4
4𝑥 2 𝑥 3 4 𝑥3 4
𝐴 = ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑥 = ∫ (4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥 = [ − ] = [2𝑥 2 − ]
0 0 2 3 0 3 0
(4) 3
32
= [(2(4)2 − ) − 0] = = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟕 𝒔𝒒 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔
3 3

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2. Find the area of the region bounded by the curve 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 , the lines 𝑥 = 0 ,
1
𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛 , and the 𝑥 axis
2

Trace the curve.

A. Intercepts
when 𝑦 = 0, 0 = 𝑒 𝑥 ; 𝑙𝑛 0 = 𝑥 ; 𝑥 is undefined
when 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 𝑒 0 = 1
B. Find the extreme points
𝑦 = 𝑒𝑥
𝑦 ′ = 𝑒 𝑥 ; 0 = 𝑒 𝑥 ; ln 0 = 𝑥; x is undefined, hence there are no extreme points.
C. Plot additional points

D. Draw the curve

D. Solve for the area

0 0 1
0 1
𝐴 = ∫ln1 𝑦𝑑𝑥 = ∫ln1 𝑒 𝑥 = [𝑒 𝑥 ] ln1 = [([𝑒 0 ]) − 𝑒 ln2 ] = 2 = 𝟎. 𝟓 𝒔𝒒. 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔
2 2 2

4. What is the area of the region bounded by the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2 and the line
𝑦 = 2?
Trace the curve. The graph of the curve is a parabola opening upward.
A. Intercepts of the parabola
When 𝑦 = 0, 0 = 𝑥 2 − 2 ; 𝑥 = ±2
when 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = −2

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B. Determine the vertex of the parabola

𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2; 𝑦 + 2 = 𝑥 2
Hence, vertex is the point (0, – 2).
C. Intersection of the parabola and the line
𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 2 equation 1
𝑦 = 2 equation 2
Equate the two equations:
𝑥 2 − 2 = 2; 𝑥 2 = 4; 𝑥 = ±2
D. Draw the curve

D. Solve for the area

2 2 2
1/2
(𝑦 + 2)3/2 2
𝐴 = 2 ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 2 ∫ √𝑦 + 2 𝑑𝑦 = 2 ∫ (𝑦 + 2) 𝑑𝑦 = 2 [ ]
−2 −2 −2 3/2 −2
3
2(𝑦 + 2)3/2 2 2(2 + 2)3/2 2((−2) + 2)2 32
= 2[ ] = 2[ ] − 2[ ]=
3 −2 3 3 3
= 𝟏𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟕 𝒔𝒒. 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔
4. Find the area bounded by the following curves 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 4 , 𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = 4.
Trace the curve. The graph of the curve is a parabola opening upward.
A. Intercepts of the parabola
When 𝑦 = 0, 0 = 𝑥 2 − 4; 𝑥 = ±2
When 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = −4
B. Determine the Vertex of the parabola
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 4; 𝑦 + 4 = 𝑥 2
Hence, the vertex is the point (0, −4).

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C. Intersection of the parabola and the line 𝑥 = 4

𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 4 equation 1
𝑥 = 4 equation 2
𝑦 = 42 − 4 = 12
D. Draw the curve

(4, 12)

E. Solve for the area

4 4
2
𝑥3 4 43 23 32
𝐴 = ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ (𝑥 − 4 ) 𝑑𝑥 = [ − 4𝑥] = [ − 4(4)] − [ − 4(2)] =
2 2 3 2 3 3 3
= 𝟏𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟕 𝒔𝒒 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒔

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