October 28, 2011 16:23 c06 Sheet number 29 Page number 441 cyan magenta yellow black

6.4 Length of a Plane Curve 441

To evaluate this integral we make the u-substitution

u = 9y 2/3 + 4,du = 6y −1/3 dy
√
and change the y-limits of integration (y = 1, y = 2 2 ) to the corresponding u-limits
(u = 13, u = 22). This gives
The arc from√ the point (1, 1) to the  22  √ √
point (2, 2 2 ) in Figure 6.4.4 is nearly 1 1/2 1 3/2 22 1 3/2 3/2 22 22 − 13 13
a straight line, so the arc length should L= u du = u = [(22) − (13) ] =
be only slightly larger than the straight- 18 13 27 13 27 27
line distance between these points. The answer in part (b) agrees with that in part (a); however, the integration in part (b) is
Show that this is so.
more tedious. In problems where there is a choice between using (4) or (5), it is often the
case that one of the formulas leads to a simpler integral than the other.

FINDING ARC LENGTH BY NUMERICAL METHODS

In the next chapter we will develop some techniques of integration that will enable us to find
exact values of more integrals encountered in arc length calculations; however, generally
speaking, most such integrals are impossible to evaluate in terms of elementary functions.
In these cases one usually approximates the integral using a numerical method such as the
midpoint rule discussed in Section 5.4.

T E C H N O LO GY M A ST E R Y
Example 2 From (4), the arc length of y = sin x from x = 0 to x = π is given by the
If your calculating utility has a numeri- integral  π
cal integration capability, use it to con- L= 1 + (cos x)2 dx
firm that the arc length L in Example 2 0
is approximately L ≈ 3.8202. This integral cannot be evaluated in terms of elementary functions; however, using a calcu-
lating utility with a numerical integration capability yields the approximation L ≈ 3.8202.

✔QUICK CHECK EXERCISES 6.4 (See page 443 for answers.)

1. A function f is smooth on [a, b] if f  is on [a, b]. 4. Let L be the length of the curve y = ln x from (1, 0) to (e, 1).
(a) Integrating with respect to x, an integral expression for
2. If a function f is smooth on [a, b], then the length of the
L is .
curve y = f(x) over [a, b] is .
(b) Integrating with respect to y, an integral expression for
3. The distance between points (1, 0) and (e, 1) is . L is .

EXERCISE SET 6.4 C CAS

1. Use the Theorem of Pythagoras to find the length of the line 4. x = 13 (y 2 + 2)3/2 from y = 0 to y = 1
segment y = 2x from (1, 2) to (2, 4), and confirm that the
value is consistent with the length computed using 5. y = x 2/3 from x = 1 to x = 8
(a) Formula (4) (b) Formula (5). 6. y = (x 6 + 8)/(16x 2 ) from x = 2 to x = 3
2. Use the Theorem of Pythagoras to find the length of the line 7. 24xy = y 4 + 48 from y = 2 to y = 4
segment y = 5x from (0, 0) and (1, 5), and confirm that the
value is consistent with the length computed using 8. x = 18 y 4 + 41 y −2 from y = 1 to y = 4
(a) Formula (4) (b) Formula (5).
9–12 True–False Determine whether the statement is true or
3–8 Find the exact arc length of the curve over the interval. ■ false. Explain your answer. ■
√
3. y = 3x 3/2
− 1 from x = 0 to x = 1 9. The graph of y = 1 − x 2 is a smooth curve on [−1, 1].