APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL

The definite integral of a function are used in many applications. Those discussed here
are
• Areas bounded by curves,
• Volumes
• Lengths of arcs of curves.

AREAS
The area of a region bounded by the graph of a function, the x-axis, and two vertical lines
can be done by using definite integral. If in an interval [a,b], f x ≥ 0 , then the region
` a

` a
lying below the graph of f x , above the x-axis and between the two vertical lines x = a
and x = b is given by
b

A = Z f x dx
` a

Figure: Finding the area under a positive function

If f x ≤ 0 on [a,b], then the area of the region lying above the graph of f x , below
` a ` a

the x-axis and between the two vertical lines x = a and x = b is given by
L M
b L b
L
M
M
A = @ Z f x dx = L Z f x dxM
` a L ` a M
L M
L M
a La M

Figure : Finding the area above a negative function

Note that in both the cases the graph does not intersect the x-axis.

If the graph of f x intersects x-axis at x = c, where a < c < b , and if f x ≥ 0 on [a,c]

` a ` a

and f x ≤ 0 on [c,b] , then the area of the region bounded by the graph of f x , the x-
` a ` a

axis and the two vertical lines x = a and x = b is given by

b c b

A = = Z f x dx @ Z f x dx
L ` aM
ZL
` a ` a
L f x Mdx
M

a a c
Figure : The area bounded by a function whose sign changes.

In such situations it is necessary to determine all the points where the function changes
sign , that is , the points where the curve intersects the x-axis, and to determine the sign of
f(x) in each interval.

We now move on to find areas of regions bounded by the graphs of two or more
functions, or two functions and two vertical lines x = a and x = b . First, we need to
locate the position of each graph relative to the position of the other. The points of
intersection of the graphs might be necessary.
For example, if f x ≥ g x
` a ` a
at all points on [a,b] , then the area between the graphs of
f(x) and g(x) and two vertical lines x = a and x = b is given by
b

A = Z f x @ g x dx
B ` a ` aC

Figure : The area between two functions.

Area with the y-axis :

x = f y , the y-axis and between the
` a
We can also find the area between graph of
horizontal lines y = a and y = b.
If in an interval [a,b], f y ≥ 0 , then the region lying on the left of the graph of f y ,
` a ` a

on the right of the y-axis and between the two horizontal lines y = a and y = b is given
by
b

A = Z f y dy
` a

a
Similarly, in an interval [a,b], f y ≤ 0 , then the region lying on the right of the graph
` a

` a
of f y , on the left of the y-axis and between the two horizontal lines y = a and y = b
is given by
b

A = @ Z f y dy
` a

Example : Find the area of the region bounded by

y = x 2 , the x @ axis, x = @ 3 and x = 2 A
Solution :
Here f x = x 2 and f x ≥ 0 in the interval @ 3, 2
` a ` a B C

So, the area A = Z x 2 dx

@3
1f
B C2
= f f3
x
3 @3
1f
= f f 3 `
B a3C
2 @ @3
3
35
= fff
ff
ff
3
Example : Find the area of the region bounded by the curve y = x 3 + x 2 @ 6x and the x-
axis.

Solution : Below is the graph of the function.

Here y = f x = x 3 + x 2 @ 2x
` a

To know where the curve intersects the x @ axis, we put y = 0 in the equation,
x 3 + x 2 @ 2x = 0,
b c
x x 2 + x @ 2 = 0,
x x + 2 x @1 =0
` a` a

x = 0, x = @ 2, x = 1
B C B C
So the curve bounds an area with the x @ axis in the interval @ 2,0 and 0,1 A

f x ≥ 0 , and in the interval 0,1 f x ≤0

B C ` a B C ` a
In the interval @ 2,0
1

A = Z x 3 + x 2 @ 2x dx
B C

@2
0 1

= Z x + x @ 2x dx @ Z x 3 + x 2 @ 2x dx
B C B C
3 2

@2 0
0 1
F 1f
f
ff 1f
f
f F 1f
f
ff 1f
ff
= x + x3@ x2 x + x3@ x2
G G
4 4
@
4 3 4 3
@2 0

8f
f
f F 5f
f
ff
f
ff
=
G
@ @
3 12
37
ff
f
ff
ff 1f
ff
ff
f
f
= = 3
12 12
Example : Find the area bounded by the curves y = x 2 @ 6 and y = 12 @ x 2 .

Solution :
To find the points of intersection of the two curves y = x 2 @ 6 and y = 12 @ x 2 ,
we equate the y,
x 2 @ 6 = 12 @ x 2
2x 2 = 18
x 2 @ 9a=` 0 a
x + 3 x @3 =0
`

x = 3, x = @ 3
at x = @ 3, y = 3 and at x = 3, y = 3 A So the curves intersect at @ 3,3 and 3,3 A
b c b c

12 @ x 2 ≥ x 2 @ 6 in the interval
B C
As @ 3,3
` a
Therefore the Area A of the region bounded by them
3 Db cE
=
c b
2 2
A Z 12 @ x @ x @ 6 dx
@3
3
b c
= Z 18 @ 2x 2 dx
@3
3
2f
= 18x @ ff 3G
F
x
3
@3

= 54 @ 18 @ @ 54 + 18 = 72
@ A @ A

# A = 72
VOLUMES OF SOLIDS WITH KNOWN CROSS SECTIONS
If we know a formula for the region of the cross section perpendicular to an axis of a
solid, we can use definite integral to find the volume of the solid in an interval on that
axis. If the cross sections are perpendicular to the x-axis , then their areas will be a
function of x. If we denote this function as A(x) then the Volume ( V ) of the solid on the
interval [a,b] is given by
b

V = Z A x dx
` a

Similarly, if the cross sections are perpendicular to the y-axis , then their areas will be
functions of y, which we denote as A(y) . Then the Volume ( V ) of the solid on the
interval [a,b] is given by
b

V = Z A y dy
` a

Example : Find the volume of the solid whose base is the region bounded by the lines
x + 5y = 0, x = 0 and y = 0, if cross sections taken perpendicular to the x-axis are squares.
Solutions :

5f@ xf
A = s2 where s = f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
ff
` a
The Area A of an arbitrary square cross section is
5
g2
5f
@ xf 1f
f
A x = ff
ff
f
ff
ff
ff
ff
f
= f f
ff
f
` a `f a2
5@x
5 25
` a
The Volume V of the solid is
5

V = Z A x dx
` a

0
5
1f
= Z f f
ff
f
`f a2
5 @ x dx
25
0
5
1f
= ff
ff
ffZ
25 @ 10x + x 2 dx
b c
25
0
5
3G
1f
ff
ff
f
f xf
= 25x @ 5x + fff
ff
f
F 2
25 3
0

1f 125 5f
= f f
ff
f
f
125 @ 125 + ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
= ff
F G
25 3 3
 ARC LENGTH
By using definite integral, we can find the length of an arc along a curve. In this closed
interval the function and its derivative both needs to be continuous.

If y = f x and y. = f. x are both continuous in the interval a,b

` a ` a B C

` a ` a B C
then the Arc Length L of f x on a,b is
w
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w
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w
w
w
B ` aC2
L = Z 1 + f. x dx
s
a

Similarly,
If x = f y and x . = f. y are both continuous in the interval a,b then the
` a ` a B C

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B ` aC2
= Z 1 + f. y dy
B C
` a ` a
arc length L of f y on a,b is L s
a

` a 1f 3
f 2fffff
f x = f
B C
Example : Find the arc length of the graph of x on the interval 0,5
3
 ` a 1f 3
f 2fffff
Solution : Below is the graph of f x = fx in which the required arc is highlighted.
3

3 1
1f
ff 2fffff ` a 1f
ff fffff
f x = f. x = x 2
` a
x
3 2
v
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5u
u 2 5 w
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u 1
1f ff
f
ff
1f
f g
f
f f
ff
L = Z t1 + x 2 dx = Z s1 + x dx
2 4
0 0
H 3f
f
f
f
I5
f
H 3f
f
ff
f
I
g2 g2
2f 1f 2f 5f
f f
f
f f
ff M ffL f
ff
J4 A 3 A 1 +
=L = +
L M
x M 4 A AJ 1
L @ 1M
4 K 3 4 K
0

f27
8f
f f
f
ff
f
ff G 19
f
ff
ff
f
f
= =
F
@1
3 8 3

πf
D E
f x = ln sec x on the interval 0, fff
f
` a ` a
Example : Find the arc length of the graph of
6
 f x = ln sec x
` a ` a

` a sec xf tan xf
f. x = f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
ff
ff
f
fff
f
ff
f
ff
fff
ff
f
= tanx
sec x
πf
f
f
ff πf
f
ff
f
6 w w
w
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ww 6 w w
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
= Z q1 + tan x = Z qsec 2 x dx
` a2
L dx
0 0
πf
f
ff
f

Solution : 6 πf
f
f
ff

= Z sec x dx = ln sec x + tan x

B ` aC6
0
0

2f 1f
f g
f
fff
ff
f
ff
f f
ff
ff
f
ff
f
f
= ln w+ w
` a
ww
ww
w ww
w
w
w @ ln 1
p3 p3
w
ww
w
w
w 1f
= ln p3 = ff
ln 3
2
= 0.55