Areas & Definite Integrals

TS: Explicitly assessing

information and drawing
conclusions
 Objectives
 To develop a formula for finding the area
under a curve.
Area Under the Curve

How do we find areas under a curve,

but above the x-axis?
 Area Under the Curve

14
Area  R1  R2  ...  R13  R14   Ri
i 1

As the number of rectangles used to approximate the area of

the region increases, the approximation becomes more accurate.
Area Under the Curve

It is possible to find the exact area by letting the

width of each rectangle approach zero. Doing this
generates an infinite number of rectangles.
Area Under the Curve

Find the area of the shaded region.

Area Under the Curve

Area  sum of the areas of the rectangles

= um (height)  (base)

= f  x  x
b
= f  x  dx The formula looks
like an integral.
a
 Area Under the Curve

b
= f  x  dx The formula looks
like an integral.
a

Is the area really given by the antiderivative?

Yes!

The definite integral of f from a to b is the limit of the Riemann

sum as the lengths of the subintervals approach zero.
Area Under the Curve

b
= f  x  dx The formula looks
like an integral.
a

A function and the equation for the

area between its graph and the x-axis
are related to each other by the antiderivative.
 Two Questions of Calculus
Q1: How do you find instantaneous velocity?

A: Use the derivative.

Q2: How do you find the area of exotic shapes?

A: Use the antiderivative.

Area Under the Curve

How do we calculate areas under a curve,

but above the x-axis?
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

B
Area   f  x  dx  F  B   F  A 
A

where F   x   f  x 
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Consider f  x   x
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Consider f  x   x
Find the area between
the graph of f and the
x-axis on the interval
[0, 3].

Area  12 bh
Area  9
2 units 2
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Consider f  x   x
Find the area between
the graph of f and the
x-axis on the interval
[0, 3].
3
Area   x dx
0
3
x2
 2 C
0

   C    C 
9 0 The bar tells you to evaluate
2 2 the expression at 3 and
subtract the value of the
2 expression at 0.
Area  9
2 units
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Consider f  x   x 2
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Consider f  x   x 2

Find the area between

the graph of f and the
x-axis on the interval
[0, 1].
1
Area   x 2 dx
0
1
x3
 3
0

  13    03 
2
Area  1
3 units
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

 x  x  1 dx 
1 1
2
Evaluate  x x  1 dx  2 2

 x u  dx 
1
2
2
Let u  x  1

 u  x dx 
1
du  2 x dx 2

Substitute into
du  x dx
 u du 
1 1
2 1
the integral. 2 2

 u du 
1
1 2
2
3
2
1
2  u
3
2
C 
Always express your 3
2
answer in terms of the
original variable.
1
3 u C 
 The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
1
3 1
  1
2
Evaluate  x x 2  1 dx  1
3 x 2
0
0
3/2

 2   1
3/2
 1
3
1
3

 .609

So this would represent

the area between the curve
y = x √(x2 + 1) and the
x-axis from x = 0 to 1
 Conclusion
 As the number of rectangles used to approximate the area of the
region increases, the approximation becomes more accurate.

 It is possible to find the exact area by letting the width of each

rectangle approach zero. Doing this generates an infinite number of
rectangles.

 A function and the equation for the area between its graph and the
x-axis are related to each other by the antiderivative.

 The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus enables us to evaluate

definite integrals. This empowers us to find the area between a
curve and the x-axis.