5/11/2022

ARCLENGTH AND
SURFACE OF REVOLUTION:
Mr. Dolfus G. Miciano
Asst. Prof., CEAFA - BatStateU

Definition of Arc Length

Given y = f(x) continuous on the interval [a,b], the
arc length of f between a and b is
 
AL = ∫ 1 + [𝑓′(𝑥)] 𝑑𝑥

If x = g(y) on the interval [c,d], then the arc length

of g between c and d is
 
AL = ∫ 1 + [𝑔′(𝑦)] 𝑑𝑦

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Example 1. Find the arc length of the graph of y = + on the interval

,2 .

WE: AL = ∫
 
1 + [𝑓′(𝑥)] 𝑑𝑥
1 1
= 𝑥 −
2 𝑥
 
 
AL = ∫ ⁄ 4+ 𝑥 −2+ 𝑑𝑥
AL = ∫ ⁄ 1+ 𝑥 − 𝑑𝑥

 
  = ∫⁄ 𝑥 +2+ 𝑑𝑥
= ∫⁄ 1+ 𝑥 − 𝑑𝑥

Con’t: Example 1. Find the arc length of the graph of y = + on the

interval ,2 .

  1
AL = ∫⁄ 𝑥 +2+ 𝑑𝑥 = −
/
1 1 /
  = − - −
AL = ∫⁄ 𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥 /
1
= +
= ∫⁄ 𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥
33
=

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Example 2. Find the arc length of the graph of (𝑦 − 1) = 𝑥 on the

interval 0, 8 .

Solution: 𝑥 = (𝑦 − 1) /

/
= (𝑦 − 1)
 
AL = ∫ 1 + [𝑔′(𝑦)] 𝑑𝑦
   
AL = ∫ 1+ (𝑦 − 1) / 𝑑𝑦 AL = ∫ 4 + 9𝑦 − 9 𝑑𝑦
   
= ∫ 1+ 𝑦 − 1 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ 9𝑦 − 5 𝑑𝑦

Con’t: Example 2. Find the arc length of the graph of (𝑦 − 1) = 𝑥 on

the interval 0, 8 .

 
= ∫ 9𝑦 − 5 𝑑𝑦
1
= 40 /
−4 /

AL =  ∫  
9𝑦 − 5 (9𝑑𝑦)
8  
= 10 10 − 1
1 ( ) /
=
/
 9.073

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Example 3. Find the arc length of the graph of 𝑦 = ln(cos 𝑥) from x = 0 to

x= /4.

Solution: 𝑦 = ln(cos 𝑥)
= (− sin 𝑥)= - tan 𝑥

/  
AL = ∫ 1 + (− tan 𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
/
/   = ln | sec 𝑥 + tan 𝑥|
= ∫ 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
 
=ln | 2 + 1| - ln |1 + 0|
/
= ∫ sec 𝑥 𝑑𝑥  
=ln | 2 + 1|  0.881

Exercises: Solve the following problems.

• Find the arc length and Sketch the graph of
a. y = x3/2 + 4 from x = 1 to x = 4
b. y = sin x, 0  x  

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Definition of the area of surface of revolution

Given y = f(x) continuous on the interval [a,b], the area
S of surface of revolution formed by revolving the graph
of f about a horizontal or vertical axis is
 
S = 2 ∫ 𝑟 𝑥 1 + [𝑓′(𝑥)] 𝑑𝑥  y is written in terms of x
where r(x) is the distance between the graph of f and the axis of revolution.
If x = g(y) on the interval [c,d], then the surface area is
 
S = 2 ∫ 𝑟 𝑦 1 + [𝑔′(𝑦)] 𝑑𝑦  x is written in terms of y
where r(y) is the distance between the graph of g and the axis of revolution.

Example 1. Find the area of surface formed by revolving the graph of y =

x3 on the interval [0,1] about x-axis.

• Solution: The graph and the surface formed as shown below

Working formula:
 
S = 2 ∫ 𝑟 𝑥 1 + [𝑓′(𝑥)] 𝑑𝑥

S = 2 ∫ 𝑥3   1 + [3𝑥2]2𝑑𝑥
 
= 2∫ 𝑥3 1 + 9𝑥4𝑑𝑥

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Con’t: Example 1. Find the area of surface formed by revolving the graph
of y = x3 on the interval [0,1] about x-axis.

 
S = 2∫ 𝑥3 1 + 9𝑥4 𝑑𝑥 2
S= ∫ 𝑢 /
𝑑𝑢
Let u = 1 + 9𝑥4  /

du = 36𝑥3 dx
=
/

If x = 1 then u = 10 
= 10 /
−1 /
If x = 0 then u = 1
S  3.563 𝑠𝑞. 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠

Example 2. Find the area of surface formed by revolving the curve y = x2, on
 
the interval [0, 2 ] about y-axis.

• Solution: The graph of y shown below and the surface of revolution formed
Volume formula:
 
S = 2 ∫ 𝑟 𝑥 1 + [𝑓′(𝑥)] 𝑑𝑥

 
 
S = 2 ∫ 𝑥 1 + [2𝑥] 𝑑𝑥
 
 
S = 2 ∫ 𝑥 1 + 4𝑥2𝑑𝑥

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Con’t: Example 2. Find the area of surface formed by revolving the curve y =
 
x2, on the interval [0, 2 ] about y-axis.

 
  2  
S = 2 ∫ 𝑥 1 + 4𝑥2𝑑𝑥 =  
1 + 4𝑥2 8𝑥𝑑𝑥
8 ∫
 
 ( ) /
=
4 /

=6 (1 + 4( 2)2)
  / - 6 (1 + 4(0)2) /

=6 (9) / −1 S =  sq. units

Exercises: Solve the following problems.

• 1. Find the area of the surface of revolution of the curve y = 9 - x2
about the y-axis from x=0 to x=3. Sketch the graph.
• 2. Find the area of the surface of revolution of the curve y =
 
9 − x2 about the x-axis between -2 and 2 inclusive. Sketch the
graph.