APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL

1. Area between curves

If f(x) is continuous and nonnegative on [a, b], then

b
a
f(x) dx = the area below y = f(x) and above x-axis (y = 0) from x = a to x = b.
Example 1.1. (1) Find the area between y = x
2
and the x-axis from x = 0 to x = 2.
(2) Find the area between y = x and the x-axis from x = 2 to x = 2.
(3) Find the total area bounded by the curve y = x
3
4x and the x-axis.
In general, if f(x) and g(x) are continuous on [a, b] and f(x) g(x) for all x [a, b] then

b
a
(f(x)g(x)) dx = the area between the curves y = f(x) and y = g(x) from x = a to x = b.
Example 1.2. (1) Find the area bounded by the graphs of y = 3 x and y = x
2
9.
(2) Find the area bounded by the graphs of y = x
2
and y = 2 x
2
for 0 x 2.
(3) Find the area bounded by the graphs of y = x
2
, y = 2 x and y = 0.
(4) Find the area between the curves y = 2 x and y = x
2
.
(5) Find the area between the curves y = 2 x, y = x
2
and x-axis.
(6) Find the area bounded by the lines y = x and x = 2 and the curve y =
1
x
2
.
(7) Find the area between the curves y = x
2
and y = x
3
for 0 x 2.
If f(y) and g(y) are continuous on [c, d] and f(y) g(y) for all y [c, d] then

d
c
(f(y) g(y)) dy = the area between the curves x = f(y) and x = g(y) from y = c to y = d.
1
2 APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL
Example 1.3. (1) Find the area bounded by the graphs of y = x
2
, y = 2 x and y = 0.
(2) Find the area bounded by the graphs of x = y
2
and x = 2 y
2
.
(3) Find the area between the curves y
2
= x 1 and y = x 3.
(4) Find the area between the curves x = 8 y
2
and x = y
2
8.
(5) Find the area between the curves y = x
3
, x + y = 0 and y = x + 6.
(6) Find the area between the curves y = |x
2
1| and y = 3.
Exercises. (1) Find the area between the curves x = y
2
and x = 4 2y
2
.
(2) Find the area between the curves y = x
1
3
and y = x
3
.
(3) Find the area between the curves y = |x| and y = 2 x
2
.
(4) Find the area between the curves y = |2x 1| and y = 4 x
2
.
(5) Find the area between the curves y =
1
(x + 1)
2
and x-axis for [1, 3].
(6) Find the area between the curves y = sin x and y = cos x for one period.
(7) Find the area between the curves y = x
2
and y = 2x + 3.
2. Volume: Slicing, disks and washers
2.1. Volumes by Slicing. Suppose a solid object has boundaries extending from x = a, to
x = b, and that its cross-section in a plane passing through (x, 0, 0) and parallel to the yz-plane
has area A(x). To a rst order approximation, the volume of the slice of the object on the right
to the plane of thickness x is then A(x)x so that the volume of the solid is the limit of the
elemental sum

A(x)x.
This being a Riemann sum, the volume is given by the formula
V =

b
a
A(x) dx.
Example 2.1. (1) The Pyramid Arena in Memphis has a square base of side approximately
600 feet and a height of approximately 320 feet. Find the volume of the pyramid with
these measurements.
(2) Find the volume of a sphere of radius R.
APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL 3
2.2. The Method of Disks. Suppose that f(x) 0 and f is continuous on the interval
[a, b]. Take the region bounded by the curve y = f(x) and the x-axis, for a x b, and
revolve it about the x-axis, generating a solid. We can nd the volume of this solid by slicing it
perpendicular to the x-axis and recognizing that each cross section is a circular disk of radius
r = f(x),
we then have that the volume of the solid is
V =

b
a
[f(x)]
2
dx.
Since the cross sections of such a solid of revolution are all disks, we refer to this method of
nding volume as the method of disks.
Example 2.2. (1) Revolve the region under the curve y =

x on the interval [0, 4] about

the x-axis and nd the volume of the resulting solid of revolution.
(2) Find the volume of a sphere of radius R.
(3) Find the volume of the solid generated by revolving the region bounded by y = x
2
+ 1,
y = 0, x = 1, x = 0 about the x-axis.
In a similar way, suppose that g(y) 0 and g is continuous on the interval [c, d]. Then,
revolving the region bounded by the curve x = g(y) and the y-axis, for c y d, about the
y-axis generates a solid. Notice that the cross sections of the resulting solid of revolution are
circular disks of radius r = g(y). All that has changed here is that we have interchanged the
roles of the variables x and y.
The volume of the solid is then given by
V =

d
c
[g(y)]
2
dy.
Example 2.3. (1) Find the volume of the solid resulting from revolving the region bounded
by the curves y = 4 x
2
and y = 1 from x = 0 to x =

3 about the y-axis.

(2) Find the volume of the solid obtained by revolving the region bounded by the curves
y = x
3
and y-axis and y = 8 about the y-axis.
4 APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL
(3) Find the volume of the solid generated by revolving the region bounded by y = 4 x
2
,
the positive x-axis, and the positive y-axis, about the y-axis.
2.3. The Method of Washers. One complication that occurs in computing volumes is that
the solid may have a cavity or hole in it. Another occurs when a region is revolved about a
line other than the x-axis or the y-axis.
For example, consider the solid obtained by revolving the region bounded by the graphs of
y =
1
4
x
2
, x = 0 and y = 1 about the x-axis, and the line y = 2, respectively:
Example 2.4. (1) Let R be the region bounded by the graphs of y =
1
4
x
2
, x = 0 and y = 1.
Compute the volume of the solid formed by revolving R about
(a) the y-axis,
(b) the x-axis, and
(c) the line y = 2.
(2) Let R be the region bounded by y = 4 x
2
and y = 0. Find the volume of the solids
obtained by revolving R about each of the following:
(a) the y-axis,
(b) the line y = 3,
(c) the line y = 7, and
(d) the line x = 3.
(3) Find the volume of the solid obtained by revolving the region R bounded by the curves
(a) y = x and y = x
2
about the x-axis,
(b) y = x
2
and y
2
= 8x about the x-axis,
(c) y = 6 x
2
, y = 2 about the y = 1,
(d) x =
_
4 y
2
and y-axis about the x = 1,
The technique used to solve the problems above is a slight generalization of the method of disks
and is referred to as the method of washers, since the cross sections of the solids look like
washers.
3. VOLUMES BY CYLINDRICAL SHELLS
Let R denote the region bounded by the graph of y = f(x) and the x-axis on the interval [a, b],
where 0 < a < b and f(x) 0 on [a, b]. If we revolve this region about the y-axis, we get the
solid shown below:
APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL 5
If instead of taking a cross section perpendicular to the y-axis, we take a cross section perpen-
dicular to the x-axis, and revolve it about the y-axis, we get a cylinder. Recall that the area of
a cylinder is given by:
A(x) = 2rh,
where r is the radius of the cylinder and h is the height of the cylinder. We can see that the
radius is the x coordinate of the point on the curve, and the height is the y coordinate of the
curve. Hence
A(x) = 2xy = 2xf(x),
Therefore the volume is given by

b
a
2xf(x) dx.
Remark 3.1. Note that for a given solid, the variable of integration in the method of shells
is exactly opposite that of the method of washers. So, your choice of integration variable will
determine which method you use.
Example 3.1. (1) Revolve the region bounded by the graphs of y = x and y = x
2
in the
rst quadrant about the y-axis.
(2) Find the volume of the solid formed by revolving the region bounded by the graph of
y = 4 x
2
and the x-axis about the line x = 3.
(3) Let R be the region bounded by the graphs of y = x, y = 2 x and y = 0. Compute
the volume of the solid formed by revolving R about the lines
(a) y = 2,
(b) y = 1,
(c) x = 3.
(4) Let R be the region bounded by the graphs of y = x(x 1)
2
and the x-axis. Compute
the volume of the solid formed by revolving R about the y-axis.
(5) Let R be the region bounded by the graphs of y =
4
x
, x = 1, x = 4, y = 0. Compute
the volume of the solid formed by revolving R about the y-axis.
(6) Let R be the region bounded by the graphs of x = y
2
, y = 2, x = 0. Compute the
volume of the solid formed by revolving R about the x-axis.
(7) Let R be the region bounded by the graphs of y = x
2
and y = 2 x
2
in the rst
quadrant. Compute the volume of the solid formed by revolving R about the y-axis.
(8) Set up an integral for the volume of the solid that results when the region bounded by
the curve y = 3 + 2x x
2
, the x-axis, and the y-axis, is revolved about
(a) the x-axis,
(b) the y-axis,
(c) the line y = 1.
6 APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL
3.1. Summary. We close this section with a summary of strategies for computing volumes of
solids of revolution.
Sketch the region to be revolved.
Determine the variable of integration (x if the region has a well-dened top and bottom,
y if the region has well-dened left and right boundaries).
Based on the axis of revolution and the variable of integration, determine the method
(disks or washers for x-integration about a horizontal axis or y-integration about a verti-
cal axis, shells for x-integration about a vertical axis or y-integration about a horizontal
axis).
Label your picture with the inner and outer radii for disks or washers; label the radius
and height for cylindrical shells.
Set up the integral(s) and evaluate.
4. Arc length and surface area
4.1. Arc Length. Let f(x) be continuous on [a, b] and dierentiable on (a, b). Our aim is
to nd the length of the curve y = f(x), a x b. We begin by partitioning the interval
[a, b] into n equal pieces: a = x
0
< x
1
< < x
n
= b, where x
i
x
i1
= x =
b a
n
for
each i = 1, 2, , n. Between each pair of adjacent points on the curve, (x
i1
, f(x
i1
)) and
(x
i
, f(x
i
)), we approximate the arc length s
i
by the straight-line distance between the two
points. From the usual distance formula, we have
s
i
d((x
i1
, f(x
i1)
), (x
i
, f(x
i
)) =
_
(x
i
x
i1
)
2
+ [f(x
i
) f(x
i1
)]
2
.
Since f is continuous on all of [a, b] and dierentiable on (a, b), f is also continuous on the
subinterval [x
i1
, x
i
] and is dierentiable on (x
i1
, x
i
). By the Mean Value Theorem, we then
have f(x
i
) f(x
i1
) = f

(c
i
)(x
i
x
i1
), for some number c
i
(x
i1
, x
i
). This gives us the
approximation
s
i

_
(x
i
x
i1
)
2
+ [f(x
i
) f(x
i1
)]
2
=
_
(x
i
x
i1
)
2
+ [f

(c
i
)(x
i
x
i1
)]
2
=
_
1 + [f

(c
i
)]
2
(x
i
x
i1
) =
_
1 + [f(c
i
)]
2
x.
Adding together the lengths of these n line segments, we get an approximation of the total arc
length,
s
n

i=1
_
1 + [f

(c
i
)]
2
x.
APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL 7
Notice that as n gets larger, this approximation should approach the exact arc length, that is,
s = lim
n
n

i=1
_
1 + [f

(c
i
)]
2
x.
So, the arc length is given exactly by the denite integral:
s =

b
a
_
1 + [f

(x)]
2
dx,
whenever the limit exists.
Example 4.1. (1) A cable is to be hung between two poles of equal height that are 20 feet
apart. It can be shown that such a hanging cable assumes the shape of a catenary, the
general form of which is y = a cosh
x
a
=
a
2
(e
x/a
+ e
x/a
). In this case, suppose that the
cable takes the shape of y = 5(e
x/10
+e
x/10
), for 10 x 10. How long is the cable?
(2) Find the arc length of the curve y =
1
3
(x
2
+ 2)
3
2
between 0 x 3.
(3) Find the length of the curve x =
3
16
y
4
3

3
2
y
2
3
between 0 y 8.
4.2. Surface Area. One can easily show that the curved surface area of the right circular cone
of base radius r and slant height l is A = rl,
and so the curved surface area of the frustum of the cone shown below is A = (r
1
+ r
2
)L.
Now, suppose that f is nonnegative and continuous on [a, b] and dierentiable on (a, b). If
we revolve the graph of y = f(x) about the x-axis on the interval [a, b], we get the surface of
revolution seen below:
8 APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL
We partition [a, b] into n many pieces of equal size as we have done so many times. On each
subinterval, we can approximate the curve by the straight line segment joining the points
(x
i1
, f(x
i1
)) and (x
i
, f(x
i
)).
Notice that revolving this line segment around the x-axis generates the frustum of a cone. The
surface area of this frustum will give us an approximation to the actual surface area on the
interval [x
i1
, x
i
]. First, observe that the slant height of this frustum is
L
i
= d((x
i1
, f(x
i1
)), (x
i
, f(x
i
))) =
_
(x
i
x
i1
)
2
+ [f(x
i
) f(x
i1
)]
2
,
from the usual distance formula. Because of our assumptions on f, we can apply the Mean
Value Theorem, to obtain f(x
i
) f(x
i1
) = f

(c
i
)(x
i
x
i1
), for some number c
i
(x
i1
, x
i
).
This gives us
L
i
=
_
(x
i
x
i1
)
2
+ [f(x
i
) f(x
i1
)]
2
=
_
1 + [f

(c
i
)]
2
(x
i
x
i1
).
The surface area S
i
of that portion of the surface on the interval [x
i1
, x
i
] is approximately the
surface area of the frustum of the cone,
S
i
[f(x
i
) + f(x
i1
)]
_
1 + [f

(c
i
)]
2
x
2f(c
i
)
_
1 + [f

(c
i
)]
2
x.
since if x is small, f(x
i
) + f(x
i1
) 2f(c
i
). Repeating this argument for each subinterval
[x
i1
, x
i
], i = 1, 2, , n, gives us an approximation to the total surface area S,
S
n

i=1
2f(c
i
)
_
1 + [f

(c
i
)]
2
x.
As n gets larger, this approximation approaches the actual surface area,
S = lim
n
n

i=1
2f(c
i
)
_
1 + [f

(c
i
)]
2
x.
APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL 9
Recognizing this as the limit of a Riemann sum gives us the integral
S =

b
a
2f(x)
_
1 + [f

(x)]
2
dx.
whenever the integral exists.
Example 4.2. (1) Find the area of the surface obtained by revolving the curve y =

25 x
2
,
2 x 3 about the x-axis.
(2) Find the area of the surface obtained by revolving the curve y = x
2
, 0 x 1 about
the y-axis.
(3) Find the area of the surface obtained by revolving the curve x = y
3
, 0 y 1 about
the y-axis.
(4) Find the area of the surface obtained by revolving the curve y = 6x, 0 x 1 about
the x-axis.
(5) Find the area of the surface obtained by revolving the curve y =
1
2
x
2
1, 0 x 2

2
about the y-axis.
10 APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL
Answers
Answers 1.1. (1)

2
0
x
2
dx =
8
3
.
(2) 2

2
0
x dx = 4.
(3) 2

0
2
(x
3
4x) dx = 8.
Answers 1.2. (1)

3
4
((3 x) (x
2
9)) dx =
343
6
.
(2)

1
0
((2 x
2
) x
2
) dx +

2
1
(x
2
(2 x
2
)) dx = 4.
(3)

1
0
x
2
dx +

2
1
(2 x) dx =
5
6
.
(4)

1
2
((2 x) x
2
) dx =
9
2
.
(5)

1
0
x
2
dx +

2
1
(2 x) dx =
5
6
.
(6)

2
1
_
x
1
x
2
_
dx = 1.
(7)

1
0
(x
2
x
3
) dx +

2
1
(x
3
x
2
) dx =
3
2
.
Answers 1.3. (1)

1
0
((2 y)

y) dy =
5
6
.
(2)

1
1
((2 y
2
) y
2
) dy =
8
3
.
(3)

2
1
((y + 3) (y
2
+ 1)) dy =
9
2
.
(4)

2
2

2
((8 y
2
) (y
2
8)) dy =
128

2
3
.
(5)

0
3
((x+6)(x)) dx+

2
0
((x+6)x
3
) dx =

3
0
(y
1
3
(y)) dy+

8
3
(y
1
3
(y6)) dy = 19.
(6) 2
_
1
0
(3 (1 x
2
)) dx +

2
1
(3 (x
2
1)) dx
_
= 8.
Exercises. (1)

2
2
((4 2y
2
) (y
2
)) dy =
32
3
.
(2) 2

1
0
(x
1
3
x
3
) dx = 1.
(3) 2

1
0
((2 x
2
) x) dx =
14
6
.
(4)
1
2
1
((4 x
2
) (1 2x)) dx +

1+

6
1
2
((4 x
2
) (2x 1)) dx =
9
2
+ 4

6.
APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL 11
(5)

3
1
1
(x + 1)
2
dx =
1
4
.
(6)
5
4

4
(sin x cos x) dx +
9
4
5
4
(cos x sin x) dx = 4

2.
(7)

3
1
((2x + 3) x
2
) dx =
32
3
.
Answers 2.4. (1)

320
0
_
15x
8
_
2
dx = 38400000.
(2)

R
R
(

R
2
x
2
)
2
dx =
4R
3
3
.
Answers 2.5. (1)

4
0
(

x)
2
dx = 8.
(2)

R
R
(

R
2
x
2
)
2
dx =
4R
3
3
.
(3)

1
0
(x
2
+ 1)
2
dx =
28
15
.
Answers 2.6. (1)

4
1
(
_
4 y)
2
dy =
9
2
.
(2)

8
0
(y
1
3
)
2
dy =
96
5
.
(3)

4
0
(
_
4 y)
2
dy = 8.
Answers 2.7. (1) (a)

1
0
(
_
4y)
2
dy = 2.
(b)

2
0

_
1
2

_
1
4
x
2
_
2
_
dx =
8
5
.
(c)

2
0

_
_
2
1
4
x
2
_
2
1
2
_
dx =
56
15
.
(2) (a)

4
0
(
_
4 y)
2
dy = 8.
(b)

2
2

__
4 x
2
(3)
_
2

_
0 3
_
2
_
dx =
1472
15
.
(c)

2
2

_
7
2

_
7 (4 x
2
)
_
2
_
dx =
576
5
.
(d)

4
0

__
3 (
_
4 y)
_
2

_
3
_
4 y
_
2
_
dy = 64.
(3) (a)

1
0

_
x
2

_
x
2
_
2
_
dx =
2
15
.
(b)

2
0

__

8x
_
2

_
x
2
_
2
_
dx =
48
5
.
12 APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL
(c)

2
2

__
6 x
2
1
_
2

_
2 1
_
2
_
dx =
832
15
.
(d)

2
2

__
_
4 y
2
(1)
_
2

_
0 1
_
2
_
dy =
32
3
+ 4
2
.
Answers 3.1. (1)

1
0
2x(x x
2
) dx =

6
.
(2)

2
2
2(3 x)(4 x
2
) dx =

6
= 64.
(3) (a)

1
0
2(2 y)((2 y) y) dy =
10
3
.
(b)

1
0
2(y (1))((2 y) y) dy =
8
3
.
(c)

1
0
2(3 x)x dx +

2
1
2(3 x)(2 x) dx = 4.
(4)

1
0
2x(x(x 1)
2
) dx =

15
.
(5)

4
1
2x
_
4
x
_
dx = 24.
(6)

2
0
2y(y
2
) dy = 8.
(7)

1
0
2x((2 x
2
) x
2
) dx = .
(8) (a) Disk Method:

3
0
(3 + 2x x
2
)
2
dx =
153
5
.
(b) Shell Method:

3
0
2x(3 + 2x x
2
) dx =
45
2
.
(c) Washer Method:

3
0

__
3 + 2x x
2
(1)
_
2

_
0 (1)
_
2
_
dx =
243
5
.
Answers 4.1. (1)

10
10

_
e
x/10
2

e
x/10
2
_
2
+ 1 dx = 10 e
1
10 e
1
.
(2)

3
0
_
(1 + x
2
)
2
dx = 12.
(3)

8
0

_
3

y
4

1
3

y
_
2
+ 1 dy = 9.
Answers 4.2. (1)

3
2
2

25 x
2
_
x
2
25 x
2
+ 1 dx = 50.
(2)

1
0
2

y
_
1 +
1
4y
dy =

6
+
5

5
6
.
(3)

1
0
2y
3
_
1 + 9y
4
dy =

27
(10

10 1).
APPLICATIONS OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL 13
(4)

1
0
26x

37 dx = 6

37.
(5)

3
1
2
_
2(y + 1)

1 +
1
2(y + 1)
dy =
52
3
.