Chapter 2

Definite Integration
2.1 Definition of a Definite Integral
I [ a, b]

f (x)

Let
be defined (i.e. bounded) in the interval
by the points
a x0 x1 x 2 x n b
and let

x r x r 1 x r

For each r choose a point

cr

such that

. Sub Divide I into n subintervals

r = 1, 2, . . . ,n.

x r 1 c r x r

. Then the sum

Sn

f ( c r ) x r
r 1

called a Riemann sum.

If the limit of the sum as
choice of
as

xr

and

cr

such that max

x r 0

exists and is independent of the

f (x)

, then we say that

is (Riemann) integrable and the limit is written

a f ( x) dx
f (x)

called the definite integral of

In other words

[ a, b]

over

f ( x )dx lim

.
n

f (c )x
r

n
max xr 0 r 1

.
f (x)

Note that the above limit exist if

f ( x) 0

Suppose

[ a, b ]

is bounded in

[ a , b]

on

. Then the Riemann sum

n

Sn

f ( c r ) x r
r 1

,
is the sum of the areas of the n rectangles shown below, and thus represents an approximation
[ a , b]

to the area A under the graph on

. Figure below illustrates the case where n = 5.

1

a x0 c1

x1

c2 x2 c3

x3

c4

x4

c5 x 5 b

f (x)

Thus provided

[ a, b ]

is non-negative on

, then

a f ( x) dx
y f (x)

is the area enclosed by the curve

f (x)

If the function

xa

, the ordinates

and

xb

and the x-axis.

[ a, b]

is always negative on

the negative value of this Riemann sum gives

y f (x)

an approximation to the area between the graph of

the x-axis.

, the ordinates

xa

and

xb

and

2.2 The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Calculating the value of a definite integral using Riemann sums is extremely difficult for all
but simple functions. However it turns out that the definite integral is related to an indefinite
f (x)
integral of
.
f (x)

Theorem: If

[ a, b]

is a continuous function on

F (x )

and

f (x)

is an indefinite of

then
b

a f ( x)dx [ F ( x)]a F (b) F (a)

b

[For proof of this important result consult any books on higher Calculus]

Exercise 2.2:
1. For the function defined by f(x) = 1 + 2x on [0, 4], calculate the Riemann sum corresponding to
the partition 0 < 1 < 1.5 < 2 < 2.5 < 4 and the choice of points c1 = 0.5, c2 = 1, c3 = 2, c4 = 2.25,
c5 = 3.
2.

Estimate the value of the Riemann sum of the following integrals using n subintervals of
equal length and choosing points ck as (i) the left endpoints of the subintervals, (ii) the right
endpoints of the subintervals, (iii) the midpoints of the subintervals:
6

2 x 1 dx

(a)

( n = 4)

(c)

(b)

3
1.8

exp(2 x) dx

( n = 4)

(d)

(4 x 2 7) dx
( n = 6)

1
dx
2x 3

( n = 6)

 /2

/2

(e)

cos x dx
( n = 4)

(f)

2
0

x
dx
2

sin

( n = 4)

3. Estimate the value of the above integrals of Question No. 2 using Trapezoidal rule.

4. State with reasons whether the following integrals exist or not.

2

(a)

(e)

0 ( x 11)

(f)

dx

(d)
1

tan x dx

2 x 1 dx

0 sin( 2 x 1)dx

(g)

(h)

Evaluate the following integrals.

5

x
1
( x x e x )dx

9 x

3 cos(ln x )
x
1

dx

(d)

1 (arctan x ) 2
1 x 2

dx

(f)

dx
x (1 x ) 2

(h)

(c)

dx

(e)
9

(b)
2 (1 ln x ) 4
x
1

dx

(sin x cos x) dx

(a)

6
2

x2

x 2 dx

(g)

x 2 ln x dx

(i)

2
0

x sin 4 x dx

(j)

State whether the following functions are odd, even or neither.

f ( x) x 3 x

f ( x) ( x 2 5) 2

(a)

f ( x) sin 2 x cos 3 x

(b)

f ( x) sin 3 x cos 2 x
(d)

7.

1 x1 dx
(c)

2 2 x 1 dx

6.

dx

(b)
2

5.

1
4
1 x

x 2 dx

(c)

f ( x) x 4 e 2 x

f ( x) tan x cot x

(e)

(f)

Find the values of the following integrals:

(a)

2
2

x (1 x x 2 x 6 ) dx

(b)

x
4

sin 5 x cos7 x dx

x(1 x 4 ) 3 dx

2
x cos x dx

x cos x dx
(d)

(c)

(e)

(f)

Answers:

2
x sin x dx

x sin x dx
(g)

1. 20

2.

5. (a) 160.2
(g) 135.7

(a) 11.89
(b) 2

(b) 114 (c) 26.79

(c) Pi/12

(h) 0.5

(d) 2.58

(i) 4.57

(b) 5.33

(c) 42.67

(e) 0.89

(e) 2

(f) 4

(f) .161

(j) -0.39

6. (a) Odd (b) Even (c) Odd (d) Odd

7. (a) 0

(d) 0.394

(e) neither Odd nor Even

(d) 0

(e) -12.56

(f) 6.28

(f) Odd
(g) 0

2.3 Applications of the Definite Integral

2.3.1 Areas of Regions Between Two Curves
Definite integrals could be used to determine the area of the region between the graph of a
function and the x-axis.
Recall that:
f ( x) 0
y f (x)
a xb
if
for
then the area of the region bounded by the curve
,
b

xa

a f ( x) dx

xb

the
x-axis and the lines
and
is
.
f ( x) 0
y f (x)
a xb
if
for
then the area of the region bounded by the curve
,
b

xa

the
x-axis and the lines
In either case the area A is given by

and

xb

is

a f ( x) dx
.

a f ( x) dx
A=
.
We shall now turn our attention to the more general problem of finding the area of regions
f (x)

bounded by two curves. In this case the functions

and

x [ a , b]

for all

f ( x) g ( x)

g (x)

are such that

.
g ( x) 0

In the case where both functions are positive i.e.

b

f ( x) 0

g ( x) f ( x)

and

, then

a g ( x) dx a f ( x) dx a [ g ( x) f ( x)] dx
Area =

g ( x) 0

If

f ( x) 0

and

, then
b

g ( x) dx
f ( x) dx
a
a

Area =

g ( x) f ( x )
b

a [ g ( x) f ( x)] dx
=

y f (x)

In general, the area A between the two curves

A

y g (x)

and

[ a, b ]

in

is

a g ( x) f ( x) dx

f (x)

f ( x) g ( x)

g (x)

Here we must subtract

from
over the subintervals where
the signs where the inequality is reversed.

and reverse

When setting up integrals which give the area of regions between curves it is not always the
most convenient to subdivide the region into vertical elements (i.e. elements parallel to the yaxis) but may be simpler to slice into horizontal strips.

Exercise 2.3.1:
1. Find the area of the shaded region.

2.

Sketch the region enclosed by the curves and find its area.

y x2 4

y 9 x2

(a)

and the x-axis

x9 y
(c)
3.

(b)

x y 4

and the y-axis

(d)

and the y-axis

Sketch the region enclosed by the curves and find its area.
y x2
y 2 x2
y 3x
yx
(a)
and
(b)
and
1

y x 2 , y x , x , x 1
y cos 2 x , y 0 , x , x
4
4
2
(c)
(d)

x2 y , x y 2

y e x , y e 2 x , x 0 , x ln 2
(f)

(e)

1
, x 0 , y 1, y e
y

y x , y 4x , y x 2

(g)

(h)
2

4.

Find the area bounded by the ellipse

x
y

1.
a2 b2
y 2 4x

5.

x 2 4 y.

and

Find the area between the parabolas

y x2

y 6x x 2
6.

and the x-axis

Find the area between the parabolas

and
9

2 x.

y x( x 2)( x 5)

7.

Find the area bounded by the curve

and the x-axis.

3

y x 3x 2 x
8.

Find the area bounded by the curve

and the x-axis.

3

xy y
9.

Find the area bounded by the curve

and the y-axis.

10

Answers:
1. (a) 4.5

(b) 22/3

3. (a) 4.5

(b) 4.5

4. ab

5. 16/3

(c) 1

(d) 10/3

(c) 49/192

6. 64/3

2. (a) 36 (b) 32/3 (c) 36

(d) -0.5

7. 253/12

(e) 4.5

8. 0.5

(f) 0.5

(g) 1

(d) 32/3
(h) 93/8

9. 0.5

2.3.2 Solids of Revolution:

1. Find the volume of the solid when the region enclosed by the given curves is revolved
about x-axis.

y x2 , x 0 , x 2 , y 0
(a)

y 9 x2 , y 0
(b)

y e x , y 0, x 0, x ln 3

(c)

y x2 , y x3
(d)

x
(e)

y, x

y
.
4

2. Find the volume of the solid when the region enclosed by the given curves is revolved
about y-axis.

y x3 , x 0 , y 1
(a)

x 1 y2 , x 0
(b)

y x 2 1, x 2, y 0
(c)
x2 4y2 4
3. Find the volume of solid generated by revolving the ellipse

about x-axis.
x2 4y2 4

4. Find the volume of solid generated by revolving the ellipse

11

about y-axis.

Answers:
1. (a) 32/5

(b) 1296/5

2. (a) 3/5

(b) 16/15

(c) 4
(c) 4

(d) 2/35
3. 8/3

12

(e) 2048/15
4. 16/3