17Calculus Integrals - Area Under Curves
Area Under A Curve
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To find the area under a curve that is above the x-axis, you just need to integrate the curve between two specific points. This is a natural idea from definite integrals. Here are a couple of videos explaining this.
rootmath - Intro to Area Under a Curve [4min-28secs]
video by rootmath |
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rootmath - Exact Area Under A Curve [9min-55secs]
video by rootmath |
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Okay, to really understand this idea, let's work these practice problems.
Practice
Unless otherwise instructed, calculate the area under these curves, between the two points, if given.
\( y=x^2 \); \( [0,4] \)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \( y=x^2 \) on the interval \( [0,4] \).
Solution |
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2114 video
video by Michel vanBiezen |
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\( y=x^3 \); \( [1,3] \)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \( y=x^3 \) on the interval \( [1,3] \).
Solution |
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2115 video
video by Michel vanBiezen |
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\( y=1/x^2 \); \( [1,4] \)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \( y=1/x^2 \) on the interval \( [1,4] \).
Solution |
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2117 video
video by Michel vanBiezen |
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\( y=\sin x \); \( [0,\pi] \)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \( y=\sin x \) on the interval \( [0,\pi] \).
Solution |
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2118 video
video by Michel vanBiezen |
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\(y=x^2-2x+8\); \([1,2]\)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \(y=x^2-2x+8\) on the interval \([1,2]\).
Solution |
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2116 video
video by Michel vanBiezen |
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\( y=\sin x \cos x \); \( [\pi/4, \pi/2] \)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \( y=\sin x \cos x \) on the interval \( [\pi/4, \pi/2] \).
Solution |
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2119 video
video by Michel vanBiezen |
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\(\displaystyle{ y = \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{x^3+9}} }\); \( [-1,1] \)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \(\displaystyle{ y = \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{x^3+9}} }\) on the interval \( [-1,1] \).
Solution |
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2120 video
video by Michel vanBiezen |
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When Area Under The Curve is Zero or Negative
Logically, area should always be positive. However, there will be times when you work the problem correctly and you end up with a negative number. What's the deal?
That's easy. When the area is below the x-axis, the area will turn out to be negative. So it is not that we have negative area. The sign tells us where MOST of the area is, above the x-axis for positive area or below the x-axis for negative area.
It is also possible to get zero for the area. This occurs when the area above the x-axis has exactly the same area as the area below the x-axis.
Here is a good video explaining in more detail why the area is negative. He uses an example and explains this very well.
Section 5.3 - Integrals and Negative Area [5min-21secs]
From this discussion, you now understand why knowing what the graphs look like is so important. Let's work these practice problems.
Practice
Unless otherwise instructed, calculate the area under these curves, between the two points, if given. Some of these will have negative or zero area. Make sure you understand why.
\( y = 60x - 6x^2 \); \( 0 \leq x \leq 15 \)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \( y = 60x - 6x^2 \) on the interval \( 0 \leq x \leq 15 \). The area may be negative or zero. Make sure you understand why.
Solution |
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2433 video
video by Michel vanBiezen |
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\(y=x^2-6x\); \( [1,3] \)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \(y=x^2-6x\) on the interval \( [1,3] \). The area may be negative or zero. Make sure you understand why.
Final Answer |
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\(-46/3\)
Problem Statement |
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Calculate the area under the curve \(y=x^2-6x\) on the interval \( [1,3] \). The area may be negative or zero. Make sure you understand why.
Solution |
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2434 video
Final Answer |
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\(-46/3\) |
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You CAN Ace Calculus
Topics You Need To Understand For This Page
Related Topics and Links
related topics on other pages |
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For discussion of area under a parametric curve, see the parametric calculus page. |
For discussion of area under a polar curve, see the polar calculus page. |
external links you may find helpful |
Trig Formulas
The Unit Circle
The Unit Circle [wikipedia]
Basic Trig Identities
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Set 1 - basic identities | |||
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\(\displaystyle{ \tan(t) = \frac{\sin(t)}{\cos(t)} }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \cot(t) = \frac{\cos(t)}{\sin(t)} }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \sec(t) = \frac{1}{\cos(t)} }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \csc(t) = \frac{1}{\sin(t)} }\) |
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Set 2 - squared identities | ||
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\( \sin^2t + \cos^2t = 1\) |
\( 1 + \tan^2t = \sec^2t\) |
\( 1 + \cot^2t = \csc^2t\) |
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Set 3 - double-angle formulas | |
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\( \sin(2t) = 2\sin(t)\cos(t)\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \cos(2t) = \cos^2(t) - \sin^2(t) }\) |
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Set 4 - half-angle formulas | |
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\(\displaystyle{ \sin^2(t) = \frac{1-\cos(2t)}{2} }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \cos^2(t) = \frac{1+\cos(2t)}{2} }\) |
Trig Derivatives
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\sin(t)]}{dt} = \cos(t) }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\cos(t)]}{dt} = -\sin(t) }\) | |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\tan(t)]}{dt} = \sec^2(t) }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\cot(t)]}{dt} = -\csc^2(t) }\) | |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\sec(t)]}{dt} = \sec(t)\tan(t) }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\csc(t)]}{dt} = -\csc(t)\cot(t) }\) |
Inverse Trig Derivatives
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arcsin(t)]}{dt} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-t^2}} }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arccos(t)]}{dt} = -\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-t^2}} }\) | |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arctan(t)]}{dt} = \frac{1}{1+t^2} }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arccot(t)]}{dt} = -\frac{1}{1+t^2} }\) | |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arcsec(t)]}{dt} = \frac{1}{\abs{t}\sqrt{t^2 -1}} }\) |
\(\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arccsc(t)]}{dt} = -\frac{1}{\abs{t}\sqrt{t^2 -1}} }\) |
Trig Integrals
\(\int{\sin(x)~dx} = -\cos(x)+C\) |
\(\int{\cos(x)~dx} = \sin(x)+C\) | |
\(\int{\tan(x)~dx} = -\ln\abs{\cos(x)}+C\) |
\(\int{\cot(x)~dx} = \ln\abs{\sin(x)}+C\) | |
\(\int{\sec(x)~dx} = \) \( \ln\abs{\sec(x)+\tan(x)}+C\) |
\(\int{\csc(x)~dx} = \) \( -\ln\abs{\csc(x)+\cot(x)}+C\) |
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Topics Listed Alphabetically
Single Variable Calculus |
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Multi-Variable Calculus |
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Differential Equations |
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Precalculus |
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Page Sections
Calculus, Better Explained: A Guide To Developing Lasting Intuition |
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Practice Instructions
Unless otherwise instructed, calculate the area under these curves, between the two points, if given.
