Section 3.1 Average Value and Area Revisited
ΒΆSubsection 3.1.1 Average Value of a Function
The average of some finite set of values is a familiar concept. If, for example, the class scores on a quiz are 10, 9, 10, 8, 7, 5, 7, 6, 3, 2, 7, 8, then the average score is the sum of these numbers divided by the size of the class:Definition 3.1. Average Value of a Function.
If f is an integrable function on the closed interval [a,b], then the average value favg of f on [a,b] is
provided the definite integral exists.
Example 3.2. Average Value Visualized.
Suppose a function is defined by f(x)=16x2+5.
What is the average value of f between x=1 and x=3?
Interpret your result from part (a) geometrically.
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By definition of the average value of a function, we have
\begin{equation*} \begin{split} f_{avg} \amp = \frac{1}{3-1} \int_1^3 \left(16x^2 + 5\right)\,dx \\[1ex] \amp = \frac{1}{2} \left[\frac{16x^3}{3} + 5x\right]_1^3 = \frac{1}{2} \left[\left(16 \cdot 3^2 + 15\right) - \left(\frac{16 \cdot 1^3}{3} + 5\right)\right]\\[1ex] \amp =\frac{1}{2} \left(\frac{446}{3}\right) = \frac{223}{3} \end{split} \end{equation*} -
We can interpret the same problem geometrically by asking the question: What is the average height of \(f(x)=16x^2+5\) on the interval \([1,3]\text{?}\) The area \(A\) under \(f(x)=16x^2+5\) on the interval \([1,3]\) is given by
\begin{equation*} A = \int_1^3 \left(16x^2+5\right)\,dx = \frac{446}{3}\text{.} \end{equation*}The area under the graph of \(y=f_{avg}=\frac{223}{3}\) over the same interval \([1,3]\) is simply the area of a rectangle that is 2 units wide and \(223/3\) units high with area \(446/3\) units squared. So the average height of a function is is the height of the horizontal line that produces the same area over the given interval as shown below.
Subsection 3.1.2 Area of Symmetric Functions
While we do not often work with even and odd functions, it is nonetheless useful to know the following facts about the area of the region under the curves of these functions on a symmetric interval [βa,a]. Figure 3.(a) illustrates the area of the region under the curve of an even function f on the interval [βa,a], and we are readily convinced that the net area shown is twice that of the net area of f on the interval [0,a]. Similarly, Figure 3.(b) illustrates the area of the region under the curve of an odd function f on the interval [βa,a], and we readily believe that the net area is zero.Theorem 3.3. Integrals of Odd/Even Functions on [βa,a].
Let f be a continuous function on the symmetric interval [βa,a].
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If f is even, then
β«aβaf(x)dx=2β«a0f(x)dx. -
If f is odd, then
β«aβaf(x)dx=0.
Proof.
The proofs are readily accessible, so we only show the proof for item 1 of the theorem as the proof for item 2 is similar.
Subsection 3.1.3 Area Between Curves: Integration w.r.t. x
We have seen how integration can be used to find an area between a curve and the x-axis. With very little change we can find some areas between curves; indeed, the area between a curve and the x-axis may be interpreted as the area between the curve and a second βcurveβ with equation y=0. Suppose we would like to find the area below f(x)=βx2+4x+3 and above g(x)=βx3+7x2β10x+5 over the interval 1β€xβ€2. Figure 3.(a) depicts the area of the region contained between the curves of f and g as well as the lines x=1 and x=2. We can see from this figure that the curve f is indeed above the curve g on the interval [1,2]. We can approximate the area between two curves by dividing the area into thin sections and approximating the area of each section by a rectangle, as indicated in Figure 3.(b). The area of a typical rectangle is Ξx(f(xi)βg(xi)), so the total area is approximatelyArea Between Two Curves: Integration w.r.t. x.
Theorem 3.4. Area Between Two Curves: Integration w.r.t. x.
Let y=f(x) and y=g(x) be continuous functions on a closed interval [a,b] such that f(x)β₯g(x) for all xβ[a,b]. Then the area A of the region between the curves of f and g as well as the lines x=a and x=b is
Example 3.5. Area Between Curves.
Find the area between f(x)=βx2+4x and g(x)=x2β6x+5.
Here we are not given a specific interval, so it must be the case that there is a βnaturalβ region involved, which we see from the graph shown below. Since the curves are both parabolas, the only reasonable interpretation is the region between the two intersection points.
We now find the intersection points by letting \(f(x)=g(x)\text{:}\)
If we let
the total area is
after a bit of simplification.
Guideline for Finding Area Between Two Curves: Integration w.r.t. x.
Given two continuous functions y=f(x) and y=g(x) on a closed interval [a,b], we can use the following steps to calculate the area of the region between the curves of f and g and the lines x=a and x=b.
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Find all intersection points of f and g in [a,b]. Suppose there are n of them called
i1,i2,β¦,in. -
Use these intersection points to create subintervals of [a,b]:
[a,b]=[a,i1]βͺ[i1,i2]βͺβ―βͺ[in,b]. Draw a sketch of the two curves on [a,b] and indicate all intersection points, similar to the figure shown below.
Based on the sketch, determine top curve and the bottom curve in each subinterval.
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For each subinterval, write the area of the region like so
β« right bound left bound [( top curve )β( bottom curve )]dx The area of the region between the curves f and g and the lines x=a and x=b is the sum of all intervals from step 5, similar to the area calculated in Figure 3.5.
Example 3.6. Area Between Two Curves.
Determine the area enclosed by y=x2, y=βx, x=0 and x=2.
The points of intersection of \(y=x^2\) and \(y=\sqrt x\) are
Thus, either \(x=0\) or \(x=1\text{.}\) Sketching the curves gives:
For the first integral we have:
Therefore, the second integral evaluates to
Thus,
Example 3.7. Area Between Sine and Cosine.
Determine the area enclosed by y=sinx and y=cosx on the interval [0, 2Ο].
The curves \(y=\sin x\) and \(y=\cos x\) intersect when:
We have the following sketch:
Subsection 3.1.4 Area Between Curves: Integration w.r.t. y
Sometimes the given curves are not functions of x. Instead, the area of the region is between two functions of y, namely x=f(y) and x=g(y), and the lines y=c and y=d, which can be thought of informally as the following.Area Between Two Curves: Integration w.r.t. y.
Theorem 3.8. Area Between Two Curves: Integration w.r.t. y.
Let x=f(y) and x=g(y) be two continuous functions on a closed interval [c,d] such that f(y)β₯g(y) for all y in [c,d]. Then the area A of the region between the curves of f and g as well as the lines y=c and y=d is
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As before, if we do not know which of two functions x=f(y) and x=g(y) is larger on a given interval [c,d], we can still ensure that we calculate the area of the region between the curves of f and g and the lines y=c and y=d by placing absolute values around the integrand:
β«dc|f(y)βg(y)|dy Likewise, the Guideline for Finding Area Between Two Curves: Integration w.r.t. x can be adopted for this scenario as well, which we leave to the reader to do.
Example 3.9. Area Between Two Curves.
Determine the area enclosed by x=y2 and x=8.
Note that \(x=y^2\) and \(x=8\) intersect when:
Sketching the two curves gives:
We could have also integrated w.r.t. \(x\) by using the two functions \(y=\sqrt{x}\) and \(y=-\sqrt{x}\text{.}\) We leave it to the reader to follow up on this integration.
Exercises for Section 3.1.
Exercise 3.1.1.
Find the average height of \(f(x)\) over the given interval(s).
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\(f(x) = \cos x\) on \([0,\pi/2]\text{,}\) \([-\pi/2,\pi/2]\text{,}\) and \([0,2\pi]\)
AnswerSolution\(2/\pi\text{;}\) \(2/\pi\text{;}\) \(0\)The average value of \(f(x) = \cos(x)\) over \([0, \pi/2]\) is
\begin{equation*} f_{avg} = \frac{2}{\pi} \int_0^{\pi/2} \cos x\,dx = \frac{2}{\pi} \sin x \bigg\vert_0^{\pi/2} = \frac{2}{\pi}\text{.} \end{equation*}The average value of \(f(x) = \cos(x)\) over \([-\pi/2, \pi/2]\) is
\begin{equation*} f_{avg} = \frac{1}{\pi} \int_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/2} \cos x\,dx = \frac{2}{\pi} \sin x \bigg\vert_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/2} = \frac{4}{\pi}\text{.} \end{equation*}The average value of \(f(x) = \cos(x)\) over \([0,2\pi]\) is
\begin{equation*} f_{avg} = \frac{2}{\pi} \int_{0}^{2\pi} \cos x\,dx = \frac{2}{\pi} \sin x \bigg\vert_{0}^{2\pi} = 0\text{.} \end{equation*} -
\(f(x)= x^2\) on \([-2,2]\)
AnswerSolution\(4/3\)The average value of \(f(x)=x^2\) over \([-2,2]\) is
\begin{equation*} f_{avg} = \frac{1}{2-(-2)} \int_{-2}^2 x^2\,dx = \frac{1}{4} \frac{x^3}{3}\bigg\vert_{-2}^2 = \frac{4}{3}\text{.} \end{equation*} -
\(f(x)=\dfrac{1}{x^2}\) on \([1,a]\)
AnswerSolution\(1/a\)The average value of \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}\) on the interval \([1,a]\) (assuming \(a > 1\)), is
\begin{equation*} f_{avg} = \frac{1}{a-1} \int_1^a \frac{1}{x^2}\,dx = \frac{1}{a-1}\frac{-1}{x}\bigg\vert_1^a = \frac{1}{a-1}\left(\frac{-1}{a}+1\right) = \frac{1}{a}\text{.} \end{equation*} -
\(f(x)=\sqrt{1-x^2}\) on \([-1,1]\)
AnswerSolution\(\pi/4\)The average value of \(f(x) = \sqrt{1-x^2}\) on \([-1,1]\) is
\begin{equation*} f_{avg} = \frac{1}{2}\int_{-1}^1 \sqrt{1-x^2}\,dx = \frac{1}{4} \left[\sqrt(1 - x^2) x + \sin^{-1}(x)\right]_{-1}^1 = \frac{\pi}{4}\text{.} \end{equation*}
Exercise 3.1.2.
Find the area bounded by the curves by integrating with respect to \(x\text{.}\)
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\(\ds y=x^4-x^2\text{,}\) \(\ds y=x^2\) (right of the \(y\)-axis)
AnswerSolution\(\ds 16\sqrt2/15\)Let \(f(x) = x^4-x^2\) and \(g(x)=x^2\text{.}\) We begin by plotting the two curves:
The two curves intersect at \(x=0\) and \(x=\pm \sqrt{2}\text{.}\) The area \(A\) between the curves (in green) is bounded above by \(g(x)\) and below by \(f(x)\text{,}\) and we notice that \(A\) is symmetric about \(x=0\text{.}\) Therefore, we calculate\begin{equation*} A = 2\int_0^{\sqrt{2}} \left[g(x) - f(x)\right]\,dx = 2\int_0^{\sqrt{2}}\left[2x^2-x^4\right]\,dx = 2\left[\frac{2}{3}x^3-\frac{1}{5}x^5\right]_0^{\sqrt{2}} = \frac{16\sqrt{2}}{15}\text{.} \end{equation*} -
\(y=\cos(\pi x/2)\text{,}\) \(\ds y=1- x^2\) (in first quadrant)
AnswerSolution\(2/3-2/\pi\)Let \(f(x) = \cos(\pi x/2)\) and \(g(x) = 1-x^2\text{.}\) We begin by plotting the two curves in the first quadrant:
The two curves intersect at \((1,0)\) and \((0,1)\text{,}\) and the area \(A\) (in green) is bounded above by \(y=g(x)\) and bounded below by \(y=f(x)\text{.}\) Therefore:\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A \amp = \int_0^1 \left[g(x) - f(x)\right]\,dx \\ \amp = \int_0^1 \left[1 - x^2-\cos(\pi x/2)\right]\,dx \\ \amp = \left[-\frac{x^3}{3}+x - \frac{2}{\pi} \sin(\pi x/2)\right]_0^1 \\ \amp =\frac{2}{3}-\frac{2}{\pi}\\ \amp \approx 0.03005. \end{split} \end{equation*} -
\(y=\sin(\pi x/3)\text{,}\) \(y=x\) (in first quadrant)
AnswerSolution\(\ds 3/\pi - 3\sqrt3/(2\pi)-1/8\)Let \(f(x) = \sin(\pi x/3)\) and \(g(x) = x\text{.}\) We begin by plotting the two curves in the first quadrant:
The two curves intersect at \(x=0\) and at \(x=1/2\text{.}\) From the graph above, we see that \(A\) is bounded above by \(y=f(x)\) and bounded below by \(y=g(x)\text{.}\) Therefore,\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A \amp = \int_0^{1/2} \left[f(x)-g(x)\right]\,dx\\ \amp = \int_0^{1/2} \left[\sin(\pi x/3) - x\right]\,dx \\ \amp = \left[-\frac{3}{\pi} \cos(\pi x/3) -\frac{x^2}{2}\right]_0^{1/2}\\ \amp = \frac{3}{\pi} - \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{2\pi} - \frac{1}{8}\\ \amp \approx 0.0029363 \end{split} \end{equation*} -
\(\ds y=\sqrt{x}\text{,}\) \(\ds y=x^2\)
AnswerSolution\(1/3\)Let \(f(x) = \sqrt{x}\) and \(g(x) = x^2\text{.}\) We begin by plotting the two curves (for \(x \geq 0\)):
The two curves intersect at \((0,0)\) and \((1,1)\text{.}\) The area \(A\) (in green) is bounded above by the curve \(y=f(x)\) and below by the curve \(y=g(x)\text{.}\) Therefore, we compute:\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A \amp = \int_0^1 \left[f(x) - g(x)\right]\,dx\\ \amp = \int_0^1 \left[\sqrt(x) - x^2\right]\,dx\\ \amp = \left[\frac{2 x^{3/2}}{3} - \frac{x^3}{3}\right]_0^1\\ \amp = \frac{2}{3} - \frac{1}{3}= \frac{1}{3}. \end{split} \end{equation*} -
\(\ds y=x^{3/2}\text{,}\) \(\ds y=x^{2/3}\)
AnswerSolution\(1/5\)Let \(f(x) = x^{3/2}\) and \(g(x) = x^{2/3}\text{.}\) We begin by plotting the two curves:
The two curves intersect at \((0,0)\) and \((1,1)\text{.}\) The area \(A\) (in green) is bounded above by the curve \(y=g(x)\) and below by the curve \(y=f(x)\text{.}\) Therefore, we compute:\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A \amp = \int_0^1 \left[g(x) - f(x)\right]\,dx\\ \amp = \int_0^1 \left[x^{2/3} - x^{3/2}\right]\,dx\\ \amp = \left[\frac{3x^{5/3}}{5} - \frac{2x^{5/2}}{5}\right]_0^1\\ \amp = \frac{3}{5} - \frac{2}{5} = \frac{1}{5} \end{split} \end{equation*} -
\(\ds y=x^2-2x\text{,}\) \(y=x-2\)
AnswerSolution\(1/6\)Let \(f(x) = x^2-2x\text{,}\) \(g(x) = x-2\text{.}\) First, we notice that
\begin{equation*} x^2-2x = x-2 \implies x =1, \ x=2\text{.} \end{equation*}Now plot the two curves:
So the area \(A\) is bounded above by the curve \(y=g(x)\) and below by the cruve \(y=f(x)\) between \(x=1\) and \(x=2\text{.}\) We now compute:\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A\amp = \int_1^2 \left[g(x)-f(x)\right]\,dx \\ \amp = \int_1^2 \left[(x-2)-(x^2-2x)\right]\,dx \\ \amp = \int_1^2 \left[-x^2+3x-2 \right]\,dx \\ \amp = \left[ -\frac{x^3}{3} + \frac{3 x^2}{2}- 2 x \right]_1^2\\ \amp = \frac{1}{6}. \end{split} \end{equation*}
Exercise 3.1.3.
Find the area bounded by the curves by integrating with respect to \(y\text{.}\)
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\(\ds x=y^3\) and \(\ds x=y^2\)
AnswerSolution\(1/12\)Let \(f(y) = y^3\) and \(g(y) = y^2\text{.}\) We first notice that
\begin{equation*} y^3=y^2 \implies y = 0, y = 1\text{.} \end{equation*}Now plot the two curves:
Therefore, the area \(A\) is bounded to the left by the curve \(x=f(y)\) and to the right by the curve \(x=g(y)\) for \(0 \leq y \leq 1\text{.}\) We now integrate with respect to \(y\text{:}\)\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A \amp = \int_0^1 \left[g(y) - f(y)\right]\,dy \\ \amp = \int_0^1 \left[y^2 - y^3 \right]\,dy \\ \amp = \left[\frac{y^3}{3} - \frac{y^4}{4}\right]_0^1\\ \amp = \frac{1}{3}-\frac{1}{4} = \frac{1}{12}. \end{split} \end{equation*} -
\(x=0\) and \(\ds x=25-y^2\)
AnswerSolution\(500/3\)Let \(f(y) = 0\) and \(g(y) = 25-y^2\text{.}\) We first find the intersection points:
\begin{equation*} 25-y^2 = 0 \implies y = \pm 5\text{.} \end{equation*}Now plot the curves:
So for \(-5 \leq y \leq 5\text{,}\) the area \(A\) is bounded to the left by the curve \(x=f(y)\text{,}\) and to the right by the curve \(x=g(y)\text{.}\) We now integrate with respect to \(y\text{:}\)\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A \amp = \int_{-5}^5 \left[g(y) - f(y)\right]\,dy\\ \amp = \int_{-5}^5 \left[25-y^2\right]\,dy\\ \amp = \left[25y - \frac{y^3}{3}\right]_{-5}^5\\ \amp = \frac{500}{3} \approx 166.67. \end{split} \end{equation*}
Exercise 3.1.4.
Find the area bounded by the curves.
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\(\ds x=1-y^2\) and \(y=-x-1\)
AnswerSolution\(9/2\)We first rewrite \(y=-x-1\) as \(x=-y-1\text{.}\) Now let \(f(y) = 1-y^2\) and \(g(y) =-y-1\text{.}\) The intersection points of these two curves is
\begin{equation*} 1-y^2 = -y-1 \implies y = -1,\ y=2\text{.} \end{equation*}We now plot the two curves for \(-1\leq y \leq 2\text{:}\)
The area \(A\) is bounded to the right by the curve \(x=f(y)\) and to the left by the curve \(x=g(y)\) on the entire interval \(-1 \leq y \leq 2\text{.}\) We can now integrate with respect to \(y\text{:}\)\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A \amp = \int_{-1}^2 \left[f(y) -g(y)\right]\,dy \\ \amp = \int_{-1}^2 \left[2-y^2 + y\right]\,dy\\ \amp = \left[2y - \frac{y^3}{3} + \frac{y^2}{2} \right]_{-1}^2\\ \amp = \frac{9}{2} = 4.5 \end{split} \end{equation*} -
\(\ds x=3y-y^2\) and \(x+y=3\)
AnswerSolution\(4/3\)Let \(f(y)=3y-y^2\) and \(g(y)=3-y\text{.}\) Then we wish to find the area between the curves \(x=f(y)\) and \(x=g(y)\text{:}\)
The curves intersect at the points \((0,3)\) and \((2,1)\text{,}\) and we notice that the desired area \(A\) (in green) is bounded to the left by \(g(y)\) and to the right by \(f(y)\text{.}\) We therefore integrate with respect to \(y\text{:}\)\begin{equation*} A = \int_1^3 \left[3y-y^2 - (3-y)\right]\,dy = \int_1^3 (4y-y^2 - 3)\,dy =\left[2y^2-\frac{1}{3}y^3-3y\right]_1^3 = \frac{4}{3}\text{.} \end{equation*} -
\(\ds y=\sqrt x\) and \(\ds y=\sqrt{x+1}\text{,}\) \(0\le x\le 4\)
AnswerSolution\(\ds 10\sqrt{5}/3-6\)Let \(f(x) = \sqrt{x}\) and \(g(x) = \sqrt{x+1}\text{.}\) The area between the two curves \(f\) and \(g\text{,}\) as well as the lines \(x=0\) and \(x=4\) is the shaded area below:
\(A\) is bounded below by the curve \(y=f(x)\) and is bounded above by the curve \(y=g(x)\) for all \(x \in [0,4]\text{.}\) Therefore, we integrate with respect to \(x\text{:}\)\begin{equation*} \begin{split} A \amp = \int_0^4 \left[g(x) - f(x)\right]\,dx\\ \amp = \int_0^4 \left[\sqrt{x+1} - \sqrt{x}\right]\,dx\\ \amp = \left[\frac{2(x+1)^{2/3}}{3} - \frac{2x^{3/2}}{3}\right]_0^4\\ \amp = \frac{10\sqrt{5}}{3} - 6 \approx 1.4536. \end{split} \end{equation*} -
\(y=\sin x\cos x\) and \(y=\sin x\text{,}\) \(0\le x\le \pi\)
AnswerSolution\(2\)Let \(f(x) = \sin x \cos x\) and \(g(x) = \sin x\text{.}\) We first rewrite \(f(x) = \frac{1}{2} \sin(2x)\text{.}\) Therefore, the area between the curves \(f\) and \(g\) for \(x \in [0,\pi]\) is the shaded area below:
The curves intersect at \((0,0)\) and at \((\pi,0)\text{.}\) The desired area \(A\) is bounded above by \(g(x)\) and below by \(f(x)\) for all \(x \in [0,\pi]\text{.}\) We therefore integrate with respect to \(x\text{:}\)\begin{equation*} A = \int_0^\pi \left(\sin(x)-\frac{1}{2}\sin(2x)\right)\,dx = \left[\frac{1}{4}\cos(2x)-\cos(x)\right]_0^\pi = \frac{1}{4} + 1 - \frac{1}{4} + 1 = 2\text{.} \end{equation*}
Exercise 3.1.5.
Find the area bounded by the given curves.
The area \(A\) is bounded above by the curve \(y=0\) and above by the curve \(y=x^3-3x^2\) for all \(x \in [0,3]\text{.}\) We therefore integrate with respect to \(x\text{:}\)
For \(0 \leq x \leq 3\text{,}\) the area \(A\) is bounded above by \(y=0\) and below by \(y=x^4-3x^3\text{.}\) We therefore integrate with respect to \(x\text{:}\)
We first notice the odd symmetry in this problem. On \([0,2]\text{,}\) the area is bounded above by \(y=x\sqrt{4-x^2}\) and below by \(y=0\text{.}\) Therefore, the total area can be expressed as
Let \(u=4-x^2\text{,}\) with \(du = -2x\,dx\text{.}\) Then when \(x=0\text{,}\) \(u=4\) and when \(x=2\text{,}\) \(u=0\text{.}\) Therefore:
First notice that the curve \(y=\displaystyle{\frac{3x}{x^2+1}}\) is an odd function. Therefore, the desired area is given by
We carry out the integration by making the substitution:
Then,
The area is thus
The area is bounded above by the curve \(y=0\) and below by the curve \(y=\frac{x}{3} - \sqrt{x}\) for \(x \in [0,9]\text{.}\) We therefore integrate with respect to \(x\text{:}\)
For \(x\in[0,1]\text{,}\) the area is bounded above by the curve \(y=\sqrt{x/4}\) and below by the curve \(y=-1/2+x\text{.}\) We therefore integrate with respect to \(x\text{:}\)
Exercise 3.1.6.
An object moves so that its velocity at time \(t\) is \(v(t)=-9.8t+20\) m/s. Describe the motion of the object between \(t=0\) and \(t=5\text{,}\) find the total distance travelled by the object during that time, and find the net distance travelled. Solution
Exercise 3.1.7.
An object moves so that its velocity at time \(t\) is \(v(t)=\sin t\text{.}\) Set up and evaluate a single definite integral to compute the net distance travelled between \(t=0\) and \(t=2\pi\text{.}\)
AnswerWe make a sketch of the velocity function below:
By symmetry of the sine function, we see that the net distance travelled must be
Exercise 3.1.8.
An object moves so that its velocity at time \(t\) is \(v(t)=1+2\sin t\) m/s. Find the net distance travelled by the object between \(t=0\) and \(t=2\pi\text{,}\) and find the total distance travelled during the same period.
AnswerWe make a sketch of the velocity function below:
Therefore, the net distance travelled is
And the total distance \(D\) travelled is the total area under the velocity curve. Since the velocity is negative for \(t\in \left(\frac{7\pi}{6},\frac{11\pi}{6}\right)\text{,}\) we split the integral into three pieces:
Exercise 3.1.9.
Consider the function \(f(x)=(x+2)(x+1)(x-1)(x-2)\) on \([-2,2]\text{.}\) Find the total area between the curve and the \(x\)-axis (measuring all area as positive).
AnswerWe first sketch the function \(f(x)\) on \([-2,2]\text{:}\)
We notice that the area is bounded below by the curve \(y=f(x)\) on \((-2,-1)\cup(1,2)\text{,}\) and is bounded above by the curve on \((-1,1)\text{.}\) Therefore, the total area will be given by:
Furthermore, we note that the area is symmetric about the \(y\)-axis. Therefore, we can simplify:
First, we solve the corresponding indefinite integral by rewriting the integrand in expanded form:
We now evaluate the definite integrals:
Exercise 3.1.10.
Consider the function \(\ds f(x)=x^2-3x+2\) on \([0,4]\text{.}\) Find the total area between the curve and the \(x\)-axis (measuring all area as positive).
AnswerWe first rewrite \(f(x) = x^2-3x+2 = (x-1)(x-2)\text{.}\)
From the plot above, we see that the area (in green) is bounded above by the curve \(y=f(x)\) on \((0,1)\cup(2,4)\text{,}\) and below by the curve on \((1,2)\text{.}\) Therefore, the area is given by
We first find the corresponding indefinite integral:
Using this result, we can compute the definite integrals:
Exercise 3.1.11.
Evaluate the three integrals:
and verify that \(A=B-C\text{.}\) Draw a diagram which illustrates this relationship.
AnswerWe first evaluate the corresponding indefinite integral:
Therefore,
Similarly, we have
and
Hence,
We illustrate this relationship below:
where \(B\) is the net areaβin other words, \(B=A+C\text{.}\)