Applications of integration

Rules of definite integration

1. ( ) ( ) ( ) f d F F
b
a
x x b a =

where ( ) ( )
d
F f
d
x x
x
=
2. ( ) f d 0
a
a
x x =

3. ( ) ( ) f d f d
b a
a b
x x x x =


4. ( ) ( ) f d f d
b b
a a
a x x a x x =


5. ( ) ( ) ( ) f d f d f d
c b c
a a b
x x x x x x = +

where a b c < <
6. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) f d d d g g g
b b b
a a a
x x x x x x x =



Area and Volume

With respect to the x-axis
Cases Area Volume

( ) f d 0
b
a
x x >

or

d 0
b
a
y x >

( )
2
f d
b
a
x x



or

2
d
b
a
y x

( ) f d 0
b
a
x x <

or

d 0
b
a
y x <

y = f(x)
o b
y = f(x)
o b
Bounded between 2 curves

( ) ( ) f g d
b
a
x x x

Top Bottom

Note: The location of the x-
axis is not important
( ) ( )
2 2
f g d
b
a
x x x


Bigger Smaller
More than 2 points of
intersections

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
f g d
g f d
b
a
c
b
x x x
x x x
+

The main idea is to find area
for every pair of
intersections
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 2
2 2
f g d
g f d
b
a
c
b
x x x
x x x

The main idea is to find
volume for every pair of
intersections
Parametric equations

( ) ( ) f , g x t y t = =
1. Starts with the formula
d
b
a
y x

.
2. Find
d
d
x
t
. i.e ( ) f ' t
3. Find the value of t when
x a = , i.e
1
t and the
value of t when x b = ,
i.e
2
t
4. Do substitution to
formula in (1):
( )
2
1
d
d g d
d
b t
a t
x
y x t t
t
=


Not tested


y = f(x)
o b
y = g(x)
y = f(x)
o
b
y = g(x)
c
y = f(x)
o b
With respect to the y-axis
Cases Area Volume

( ) f d 0
d
c
y y >

or

d 0
d
c
x y >

( )
2
f d
c
c
y y



or

2
d
d
c
x y

( ) f d 0
d
c
y y <

or

d 0
d
c
x y <

Bounded between 2 curves

( ) ( ) f g d
d
c
y y y

Right Left

Note: The location of the y-
axis is not important
( ) ( )
2 2
f g d
d
c
y y y


Bigger Smaller
More than 2 points of
intersections

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
f g d
g f d
d
c
e
d
y y y
y y y
+

The main idea is to find area
for every pair of
intersections
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 2
2 2
f g d
g f d
d
c
e
d
y y y
y y y

The main idea is to find
volume for every pair of
intersections

x = f(y)
c
J
x = f(y)
c
J
y = g(y)
J
y = f(y) c
y = f(y)
J
c
y = g(y)
c
Parametric equations

( ) ( ) f , g x t y t = =
1. Starts with the formula
d
d
c
x y

.
2. Find
d
d
y
t
. i.e ( ) g' t
3. Find the value of t when
y c = , i.e
1
t and the
value of t when y d = ,
i.e
2
t
4. Do substitution to
formula in (1):
( )
2
1
d
d f d
d
d t
c t
y
x y t t
t
=


Not tested

Some guidelines to follow
1. Draw the curves if it is not given.
2. Shade the region needed if it is not given.
3. Find all the points of intersections.
4. Find the area/volume for every consecutive pair of intersections unless you are
confident of what you are doing.

Special cases
1. Definite integral that involves modulus. i.e ( ) f d
b
a
x x

a. Sketch the curve of ( ) f y x = .
b. Identify portions of the curve that are below the x-axis. These portion of the curve
will be reflected about the x-axis for ( ) f y x = . Hence the equation of the curve
for these portion will be ( ) f y x = .
c. Example ( ) f 0 x for a x c and ( ) f 0 x < for c b x < . Then
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) f d f d f d f d f d
b c b c b
a a c a c
x x x x x x x x x x = + =


2. Equation of curve that involves squared term. i.e
2
1 y x = +
a. When you make y the subject, there will be . You will need to decide
whether you are taking the positive root or the negative root. You can use a
convenient point on the curve to help you decide.
x = f(y)
c
J