PLANE AREAS

Outline:
Area Under a Curve
Area Between Two Curves
Area of Polar Curves

Overview:
Area is the main idea behind definite integral. For a given function described
by a curve, the area bounded between the curve and the given boundaries is the
area of that bounded curve. This is the main definition of the definite integral.
This chapter will introduce applications on area. This chapter will discuss the
method on how to find the area under a curve and between two curves, also the
method on how to find the area of polar curves will be introduced.

Objectives:
Upon completion of this chapter, the students will be able to:
1. Compute the area under a curve.
2. Compute the area between two curves.
3. Compute the area of polar curves.

ld Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 Area Under a Curve
The first application of definite integrals is the determination of area under a
curve and between two curves.
Consider the figure below.
࢟

࢟ = ࢌ(࢞)

࢞
ࢇ ࢊ࢞ ࢈

If ‫ )ݔ(݂ = ݕ‬, is continuous and nonnegative between ܽ and ܾ, the area

bounded by the curve and the ‫ݔ‬-axis, between the vertical lines, ‫ ܽ = ݔ‬and ‫ܾ = ݔ‬,
can be written as the value of the definite integral,
௕
‫׬ = ܣ‬௔ ݂ (‫ݔ݀)ݔ‬

The area can be analyzed as a rectangle, infinitesimally thin, whose height is,
‫ )ݔ(݂ = ݕ‬and whose width is ݀‫ݔ‬. The area of these imaginary rectangles is ‫ݔ݀ݕ‬.
Adding up all the areas of the rectangles between ܽ and ܾ by integration, we
obtain,
௕
‫׬ = ܣ‬௔ ‫ݔ݀ ݕ‬

Example(a).
Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ = ݕ‬4െ‫ ݔ‬ଶ and the ‫ݔ‬-axis.
Solution:
Graphing the function,
࢟

૝
࢟ = ૝ െ ࢞૛
૜

૛ ࢟

࢞
െ૛ െ૚ ૙ ࢊ࢞ ૚ ૛

Considering vertical strip, we have,

ଶ
‫ି׬ = ܣ‬ଶ ‫ݔ݀ ݕ‬
Since ‫ = ݕ‬4െ‫ ݔ‬ଶ , thus the area is,
ଶ
‫ି׬ = ܣ‬ଶ(4െ‫ ݔ‬ଶ )݀‫ݔ‬
ଵ ଶ
= ቚ4‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଷ ቚ
ଷ ିଶ

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 ଵ ଵ
= ቂ4(2) െ (2) ଷ ቃ െ ቂ4(െ2) െ (െ2) ଷ ቃ
ଷ ଷ
ଷଶ
‫=ܣ‬ ଷ
= 10.67 sq. units

We can also use the horizontal strip. Considering the horizontal

strip, we have,
࢟

૝
࢟ = ૝ െ ࢞૛
૜

࢞ ૛ ࢞
ࢊ࢟
૚

࢞
െ૛ െ૚ ૙ ૚ ૛
ସ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ 2‫ݕ݀ ݔ‬
ସ
= 2 ‫׬‬଴ ‫ݕ݀ ݔ‬
From ‫ = ݕ‬4െ‫ ݔ‬ଶ, ‫ = ݔ‬ඥ4 െ ‫ݕ‬, thus the area is,
ସ
‫ = ܣ‬2 ‫׬‬଴ ඥ4 െ ‫ݕ݀ ݕ‬
య ସ
ସ
= ቚെ ଷ (4 െ ‫ )ݕ‬మ ቚ
଴
య య
ସ ସ
= ቄെ [4 െ (4)] మ ቅ െ ቄെ [4 െ (0)] మ ቅ
ଷ ଷ
ଷଶ
‫=ܣ‬ = 10.67 sq. units
ଷ

Example(b).
Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ ݕ = ݔ‬ଶ , the ‫ݔ‬-axis and the line ‫ = ݔ‬4 on
the first quadrant.
Solution:
Graphing the function,
࢟
࢞ = ࢟૛

(૝,૛)
૛

૚ ࢟

࢞
૙
ࢊ࢞

࢞= ૝

Considering vertical strip, we have,

ସ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ ‫ݔ݀ ݕ‬

From ‫ ݕ = ݔ‬ଶ, ‫ = ݕ‬ξ‫ݔ‬, thus the area is,

ସ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ ξ‫ݔ݀  ݔ‬

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 య ସ
ଶ
= ቚ ‫ ݔ‬మቚ
ଷ ଴
య య
ଶ ଶ
= (4) మ െ (0) మ
ଷ ଷ
ଵ଺
‫=ܣ‬ ଷ
= 5.33 sq. units

Considering horizontal strip, we have,

࢟ ࢞ = ࢟૛

(૝,૛)
૛
࢞
૚ ࢊ࢟
(૝ െ ࢞)
࢞
૙
࢞= ૝

ଶ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ (4 െ ‫ݕ݀)ݔ‬
Since ‫ ݕ = ݔ‬ଶ , thus the area is,
ଶ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ (4 െ ‫ ݕ‬ଶ) ݀‫ݕ‬
ଵ ଶ
= ቚ4‫ ݕ‬െ ଷ ‫ ݕ‬ଷ ቚ
଴
ଵ ଵ
= ቂ4(2) െ ଷ (2) ଷ ቃ െ ቂ4(0) െ ଷ (0) ଷቃ
ଵ଺
‫=ܣ‬ ଷ
= 5.33 sq. units

Example(c).
Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ = ݕ‬5‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ, the ‫ݕ‬-axis and the line
‫ = ݕ‬6.
Solution:
Graphing the function,
࢟

(૛,૟) ࢟ = ૞࢞ െ ࢞૛
࢟= ૟
࢞
ࢊ࢟

࢞
૙ ૞

Considering horizontal strip, we have,

଺
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ ‫ݕ݀ ݔ‬

Since ‫ = ݕ‬5‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ , we cannot directly substitute the value of ‫ ݔ‬to the
integrand, but we can use it to find ݀‫ ݕ‬instead and substitute it to the

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 integrand, thus, ݀‫( = ݕ‬5 െ 2‫ݔ݀)ݔ‬. The limit of integration should also be
change because the variable of integration was also changed. For this
example, we can use the limits from 0 to 2. Substituting to the integrand, we
have,
ଶ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ ‫([ ݔ‬5 െ 2‫]ݔ݀)ݔ‬
ଶ
= ‫׬‬଴ (5‫ ݔ‬െ 2‫ ݔ‬ଶ)݀‫ݔ‬
ହ ଶ ଶ ଷ ଶ
= ቚ ‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ቚ
ଶ ଷ ଴
ହ ଶ ହ ଶ
= ቂ (2) ଶ െ (2) ଷ ቃ െ ቂ (0) ଶ െ (0) ଷቃ
ଶ ଷ ଶ ଷ
ଵସ
‫=ܣ‬ = 4.67 sq. units
ଷ

Considering vertical strip, we have,

࢟

࢟= ૟ ࢊ࢞ (૛,૟) ࢟ = ૞࢞ െ ࢞૛

(૟ െ ࢟)

࢞
૙ ૞

ଶ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ (6 െ ‫ݔ݀ )ݕ‬
Since ‫ = ݕ‬5‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ , thus the area is,
ଶ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ [6 െ (5‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ)] ݀‫ݔ‬
ଶ
= ‫׬‬଴ (6 െ 5‫ ݔ‬+ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ ) ݀‫ݔ‬
ହ ଵ ଶ
= ቚ6‫ ݔ‬െ ଶ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ + ଷ ‫ ݔ‬ଷ ቚ
଴
ହ ଵ ହ ଵ
= ቂ6(2) െ (2) ଶ + (2) ଷ ቃ െ ቂ6(0) െ (0) ଶ + (0) ଷቃ
ଶ ଷ ଶ ଷ
ଵସ
‫=ܣ‬ ଷ
= 4.67 sq. units

Example(d).
గ
Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ = ݕ‬cos ‫ݔ‬, the ‫ݔ‬-axis, from ‫ = ݔ‬െ to
ଶ
గ
‫ =ݔ‬.
ଶ
Solution:
Graphing the function,
࢟
૚ ࢟ = ‫࢞ܛܗ܋‬

࢞
࣊ ૙ ࢊ࢞ ࣊
െ
૛ ૛

thor: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 Considering vertical strip, we have,
ഏ
‫׬ = ܣ‬షమഏ ‫ݔ݀ ݕ‬
మ
Since ‫ = ݕ‬cos‫ݔ‬, thus the area is,
ഏ
‫ ׬ = ܣ‬cos‫ݔ݀ ݔ‬
ష
మ
ഏ
మ
ഏ

= |sin ‫ି |ݔ‬మ ഏ
మ
గ గ
= sin ቀ ଶቁ െ sin ቀെ ଶቁ
‫ = ܣ‬2 sq. units

Considering horizontal strip, we have,

࢟
࢟ = ‫࢞ܛܗ܋‬
૚

࢞ ࢞
ࢊ࢟

࢞
࣊ ૙
࣊
െ
૛ ૛

ଵ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ 2‫ݕ݀ ݔ‬
From ‫ = ݕ‬cos‫ݔ‬, ‫ = ݔ‬cosିଵ ‫ݕ‬, thus the area is,
ଵ
‫ = ܣ‬2 ‫׬‬଴ cosିଵ ‫ݕ݀ ݕ‬
By integration by parts, we have,
ଵ
‫ = ܣ‬2ห‫ ݕ‬cosିଵ ‫ ݕ‬െ ඥ1 െ ‫ ݕ‬ଶห଴
= 2 ቂ(1) cosିଵ (1) െ ඥ1 െ (1) ଶቃ െ 2 ቂ(0) cosିଵ (0) െ ඥ1 െ (0) ଶቃ
‫ = ܣ‬2 sq. units

Exercise
I. Find the area bounded by the given curves and lines.
1. ‫ = ݕ‬3‫ ݔ‬+ 1,‫ = ݔ‬0,‫ = ݕ‬4
2. ‫ ݔ = ݕ‬ଷ ,‫ = ݔ‬0,‫ = ݕ‬8
3. ‫ = ݕ‬2‫ ݔ‬ଶ + ‫ݔ‬, ‫ = ݔ‬0,‫ = ݕ‬6
4. ‫ ݔ‬ଶ = 4‫ݕ‬,‫ = ݔ‬4, ‫ = ݕ‬0
5. ‫ ݕ‬ଶ = ‫ݔ‬, ‫ = ݔ‬4
6. ‫ ݕ‬ଶ = ‫ ݔ‬െ 1,‫ = ݔ‬5
7. ‫ ݔ‬ଶ = 2‫ ݕ‬െ 1,‫ = ݕ‬1
8. ‫ = ݕ‬െ2‫ ݔ‬+ 2,‫ = ݔ‬1, ‫ = ݕ‬2
9. ‫ = ݕ‬ln ‫ ݔ‬, ‫ = ݕ‬0,‫ = ݔ‬4
10. ‫ି ݁ = ݕ‬௫ ,‫ = ݔ‬0,‫ = ݔ‬1,‫ = ݕ‬0

or: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

II. Solve the following problems.
1. Find the area of an ellipse.
2. Find the area of a circle.
3. Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ = ݕ‬sin ‫ݔ‬, from, ‫ = ݔ‬0 to ‫ ߨ = ݔ‬and
‫ = ݕ‬0.
4. Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ = ݕ‬cosh ‫ݔ‬, ‫ = ݔ‬0, ‫ = ݔ‬1 and ‫ = ݕ‬0.
గ
5. Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ = ݕ‬sin ିଵ ‫ݔ‬, ‫ = ݔ‬1, ‫ = ݕ‬, on the first
ଶ

quadrant.

Area Between Two Curves

Given the curves,
࢟

࢟ࢁ
࡯

ࢎ(࢞)

࢞
ࢇ ࡭ ࢈

࡮
࢟ࡸ
ࢊ࢞

From the figure, considering vertical strip, the area between the two curves is,
௕
‫׬ = ܣ‬௔ ݄(‫ݔ݀ )ݔ‬

where ݄(‫ ܥܤ = )ݔ‬and ‫ ܣܤ = ܥܤ‬+ ‫ܥܣ‬.

In the above figure, the points of a curve which lie above the ‫ݔ‬-axis have
positive ordinate and those below the ‫ݔ‬-axis have negative ordinate, thus,
‫ = ܥܤ‬െ‫ ܣܤ‬+ ‫ܥܣ‬

But ‫ݕ = ܣܤ‬௅ and ‫ݕ = ܥܣ‬௎ , therefore,

‫ = ܥܤ‬െ‫ݕ‬௅ + ‫ݕ‬௎
‫ݕ = ܥܤ‬௎ െ ‫ݕ‬௅

Since ݄(‫ܥܤ = )ݔ‬, thus, ݄(‫ݕ = )ݔ‬௎ െ ‫ݕ‬௅ .

The area now is,

௕
‫׬ = ܣ‬௔ (‫ݕ‬௎ െ ‫ݕ‬௅ ) ݀‫ݔ‬

Note that ‫ݕ‬௎ , represents upper ‫ ݕ‬and ‫ݕ‬௅ , represents lower ‫ݕ‬.

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 From the next figure, consider horizontal strip.
࢟

࢞ࡸ ࢈ ࢞ࡾ

ࢊ࢟
࡮ ࡭ ࡯

ࢇ
ࢎ(࢟)
࢞

The area between the two curves is,

௕
‫׬ = ܣ‬௔ ݄(‫ݕ݀ )ݕ‬

where ݄(‫ ܥܤ = )ݕ‬and ‫ ܣܤ = ܥܤ‬+ ‫ܥܣ‬.

Considering the points of a curve which lie at the right side of the ‫ݕ‬-axis have
positive ordinate and those at the left side of the ‫ݕ‬-axis have negative ordinate, thus,
‫ = ܥܤ‬െ‫ ܣܤ‬+ ‫ܥܣ‬

But ‫ݔ = ܣܤ‬௅ and ‫ݔ = ܥܣ‬ோ , therefore,

‫ = ܥܤ‬െ‫ݔ‬௅ + ‫ݔ‬ோ
‫ݔ = ܥܤ‬ோ െ ‫ݔ‬௅

Since ݄(‫ܥܤ = )ݕ‬, thus, ݄(‫ݔ = )ݕ‬ோ െ ‫ݔ‬௅ .

The area now is,

௕
‫׬ = ܣ‬௔ (‫ݔ‬ோ െ ‫ݔ‬௅ ) ݀‫ݕ‬

Also, ‫ݔ‬ோ represents right ‫ ݔ‬and ‫ݔ‬௅ represents left ‫ݔ‬.

Example(a).
Find the area bounded by the curves ‫ ݕ‬ଶ = ‫ ݔ‬and ‫ ݔ = ݕ‬ଷ.
Solution:
Graphing the curves,
࢟ = ࢞૜

࢟
૚ ࢟૛ = ࢞
(૚,૚)

(࢟ࢁ െ ࢟ࡸ )

ࢊ࢞ ࢞
૚

Considering vertical strip, we have,

ଵ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ (‫ݕ‬௎ െ ‫ݕ‬௅ ) ݀‫ݔ‬

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 Since ‫ݕ‬௎ = ‫ ݔ‬ଷ and ‫ݕ‬௅ = ξ‫ݔ‬, then the area is,
ଵ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ ൫ξ‫ ݔ –ݔ‬ଷ ൯ ݀‫ݔ‬
య ଵ
ଶ ଵ
= ቚ ‫ ݔ‬మ െ ‫ ݔ‬ସቚ
ଷ ସ ଴
య య
ଶ ଵ ଶ ଵ
= ቂ (1) మ െ (1) ସቃ െ ቂ (0) మ െ (0) ସ ቃ
ଷ ସ ଷ ସ
ହ
‫=ܣ‬ ଵଶ
= 0.42 sq. units

Considering horizontal strip, we have,

࢟

࢟ = ࢞૜

૚ ࢟૛ = ࢞
(૚,૚)

ࢊ࢟
(࢞ࡾ െ ࢞ࡸ )

࢞
૚
ଵ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ (‫ݔ‬ோ െ ‫ݔ‬௅ ) ݀‫ݕ‬
Since ‫ݔ‬ோ = యඥ‫ ݕ‬and ‫ݔ‬௅ = ‫ ݕ‬ଶ, then the area is,
ଵ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ ൫ యඥ‫ ݕ – ݕ‬ଶ ൯ ݀‫ݕ‬
ర ଵ
ଷ ଵ
= ቚସ ‫ ݕ‬య െ ଷ ‫ ݕ‬ଷ ቚ
଴
ర ర
ଷ ଵ ଷ ଵ
= ቂସ (1) య െ ଷ (1) ଷቃ െ ቂସ (0) య െ ଷ (0) ଷ ቃ
ହ
‫ = ܣ‬ଵଶ = 0.42 sq. units
Example(b).
Find the area bounded by the curves ‫ ݔ = ݕ‬ଷ and ‫ = ݕ‬4‫ݔ‬.
Solution:
Graphing the curves,

࢟
(૛,ૡ)
࢟ = ૝࢞ ࢟ = ࢞૜

(࢟ࢁ െ ࢟ࡸ )

ࢊ࢞
࢞

(െ૛,െૡ)

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 The area bounded by the curve in the first quadrant is symmetrical to
the area bounded in the third quadrant. To find the total area of the curves, we
first find the area on the first quadrant and multiply by two, say,
ଶ
‫ = ܣ‬2 ‫׬‬଴ (‫ݕ‬௎ െ ‫ݕ‬௅ ) ݀‫ݔ‬
And, ‫ݕ‬௎ = 4‫ ݔ‬and ‫ݕ‬௅ = ‫ ݔ‬ଷ , thus,
ଶ
‫ = ܣ‬2 ‫׬‬଴ (4‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଷ ) ݀‫ݔ‬
ଵ ଶ
= 2 ቚ2‫ ݔ‬ଶ െ ସ ‫ ݔ‬ସ ቚ
଴
ଵ ଵ
= 2 ቂ2(2) ଶ െ ସ (2) ସ ቃ െ 2 ቂ2(0) ଶ െ ସ (0) ସ ቃ
‫ = ܣ‬8 sq. units

Or, by using the vertical strip, we have,

࢟ (૛,ૡ)

࢟ = ૝࢞ ࢟ = ࢞૜

ࢊ࢞
(࢞ࡾ െ ࢞ࡸ )

(െ૛,െૡ)
଼
‫ = ܣ‬2 ‫׬‬଴ (‫ݔ‬ோ െ ‫ݔ‬௅ ) ݀‫ݕ‬
ଵ
Since, ‫ݔ‬ோ = యඥ‫ ݕ‬and ‫ݔ‬௅ = ‫ݕ‬, thus, the area is,
ସ
଼ ଵ
‫=ܣ‬ 2 ‫׬‬଴ ቀ యඥ‫ ݕ‬െ ‫ݕ‬ቁ ݀‫ݕ‬
ସ
଼
ଷ ర ଵ
= 2 ቚସ ‫ ݕ‬య െ ଼ ‫ ݕ‬ଶ ቚ
଴
ర ర
ଷ ଵ ଷ ଵ
= 2 ቂ (8) య െ (8) ଶ ቃ െ 2 ቂ (0) య െ (0) ଶ ቃ
ସ ଼ ସ ଼
‫ = ܣ‬8 sq. units

Example(c).
Find the area bounded by the curves ‫ ݔ = ݕ‬ଶ and ‫ ݔ = ݕ‬+ 2.
Solution:
Graphing the curves,
࢟ ࢟ = ࢞૛

࢟ = ࢞+ ૛
(૛,૝)

(࢟ࢁ െ ࢟ࡸ )

(െ૚,૚)
ࢊ࢞ ࢞

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 Considering vertical strip, we have,
ଶ
‫ି׬ = ܣ‬ଵ(‫ݕ‬௎ െ ‫ݕ‬௅ ) ݀‫ݔ‬
Since ‫ݕ‬௎ = ‫ ݔ‬+ 2 and ‫ݕ‬௅ = ‫ ݔ‬ଶ , then the area is,
ଶ
‫ି׬ = ܣ‬ଵ[(‫ ݔ‬+ 2) െ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ ] ݀‫ݔ‬
ଵ ଵ ଶ
= ቚ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ + 2‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଷ ቚ
ଶ ଷ ିଵ
ଵ ଵ ଵ ଵ
= ቂ (2) ଶ + 2(2) െ (2) ଷ ቃ െ ቂ (െ1) ଶ + 2(െ1) െ (െ1) ଷ ቃ
ଶ ଷ ଶ ଷ
ଽ
‫=ܣ‬ = 4.5 sq. units
ଶ

Considering horizontal strip, from the figure, we see that,

on ‫ݕ‬-axis, interval [0,1], ݄(‫ = )ݔ‬2ඥ‫ݕ‬, and
on ‫ݕ‬-axis, interval [1,4], ݄(‫ = )ݔ‬ඥ‫ ݕ( –ݕ‬െ 2) = ඥ‫ ݕ‬െ ‫ ݕ‬+ 2
࢟ ࢟ = ࢞૛
࢟ = ࢞+ ૛
(૛,૝)

ࢊ࢟
(࢞ࡾ െ ࢞ࡸ )
(െ૚,૚)
ࢊ࢟
ࢊ࢞ ࢞

Then, the area can be solved by,

ଵ ସ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ 2ඥ‫ ݕ݀ݕ‬+ ‫׬‬ଵ ൫ඥ‫ ݕ –ݕ‬+ 2൯ ݀‫ݕ‬
య ଵ య ସ
ସ ଶ ଵ
= ቚ ‫ ݕ‬మ ቚ + ቚ ‫ ݕ‬మ െ ‫ ݕ‬ଶ + 2‫ݕ‬ቚ
ଷ ଴ ଷ ଶ ଵ
య య య య
ସ ସ ଶ ଵ ଶ ଵ
= ቂ (1) మ െ (0) మቃ + ቄቂ (4) మ െ (4) ଶ + 2(4)ቃ െ ቂ (1) మ െ (1) ଶ + 2(1)ቃቅ
ଷ ଷ ଷ ଶ ଷ ଶ
ଽ
‫=ܣ‬ = 4.5 sq. units
ଶ

Example(d).
Find the area bounded by the curves ‫ = ݕ‬sin ‫ ݔ‬,‫ = ݕ‬cos‫ ݔ‬and ‫ = ݕ‬0 on the
first quadrant.
Solution:
Graphing the curves,
࢟

࢟ = ‫࢞ܖܑܛ‬

(࢟ࢁ െ ࢟ࡸ )
࢟ = ‫࢞ܛܗ܋‬

ࢊ࢞

࢞
࣊ ࣊
૙
૝ ૛

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 Using the vertical strip, we have,
ഏ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ర(‫ݕ‬௎ െ ‫ݕ‬௅ ) ݀‫ݔ‬
Since ‫ݕ‬௎ = cos‫ ݔ‬and ‫ݕ‬௅ = sin ‫ݔ‬, then the area is,
ഏ
‫׬ = ܣ‬଴ర(cos‫ ݔ‬െ sin ‫ݔ݀ )ݔ‬
ഏ

= |sin ‫ ݔ‬+ cos‫ |ݔ‬଴ర

గ గ
= ቂsin ቀ ቁ + cosቀ ቁቃ െ [sin(0) + cos(0)]
ସ ସ
‫ = ܣ‬0.414 sq. units

Exercise
Find the area bounded by the given curves.
1. ‫ ݕ‬ଶ = 4‫ݔ‬, ‫ ݔ‬ଶ = 4‫ݕ‬
2. ‫ = ݕ‬െ2‫ ݔ‬ଶ െ 4‫ݔ‬, ‫ = ݕ‬2‫ݔ‬
3. ‫ = ݕ‬3 െ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ , ‫ ݔ = ݕ‬+ 1
4. ‫ = ݕ‬2‫ ݔ‬ଶ + 4‫ݔ‬, ‫ = ݕ‬2‫ ݔ‬+ 4
మ
5. ‫ ݕ = ݔ‬య , ‫ = ݕ‬2‫ݔ‬
6. ‫ ݔ = ݕ‬ଶ ,2‫ ݔ‬+ ‫ = ݕ‬8
7. ‫ ݕ = ݔ‬െ 3,‫ ݔ‬ଶ = ‫ ݕ‬െ 1
8. ‫ = ݕ‬3‫ ݔ‬+ 2, ‫ ݔ‬ଷ = ‫ݕ‬
9. ‫ = ݕ‬5‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଷ , ‫ݕ = ݔ‬
10. ‫ ݔ‬ଶ = ‫ݕ‬,‫ = ݕ‬4‫ ݔ‬െ ‫ ݔ‬ଶ
11. ‫ ݕ‬ଶ = 1 + ‫ݔ‬,‫ = ݕ‬1 െ ‫ݔ‬
12. ‫ ݕ‬ଶ = 2‫ ݔ‬+ 4,‫ ݕ‬ଶ = 4 െ 2‫ݔ‬
13. ‫ ݔ‬ଶ = 4‫ݕ‬,‫ = ݔ‬2‫ ݕ‬െ 4
14. ‫ ݕ = ݔ‬ଶ , ‫ ݕ‬ଶ = 1 െ ‫ݔ‬
గ ହగ
15. ‫ = ݕ‬sin ‫ ݔ‬, ‫ = ݕ‬cos‫ ݔ‬, ‫= ݔ‬ ,‫= ݔ‬
ସ ସ

Area of Polar Curves

Given the curve,

ࣂ= ࢈ ࢘ = ࢌ(ࣂ)

ࢊࣂ
࢞
ࣂ= ࢇ

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 The area of a circular sector is,
ଵ ଶ
‫=ܣ‬ ‫ߠ ݎ‬
ଶ

From the figure above, consider the region bounded by the graph of the polar
curve ‫ )ߠ(݂ = ݎ‬and the lines ߠ = ܽ and ߠ = ܾ.

The area is to be analyzed as a circular sector, infinitesimally thin, whose

radius is ‫ )ߠ(݂ = ݎ‬with an angle of ݀ߠ. Adding up all the areas of the circular
sectors between ܽ and ܾ by integration, we have,
ଵ ௕
‫=ܣ‬ ‫ݎ ׬‬ଶ
ଶ ௔
݀ߠ

Example(a).
Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ = ݎ‬2.
Solution:
Graphing the curve, ૢ૙૙

૚૛૙૙ ૟૙૙

૚૞૙૙ ૜૙૙

૚ૡ૙૙ ૙૙

૛૚૙૙ ૜૜૙૙

૛૝૙૙ ૜૙૙૙

૛ૠ૙૙

The curve is a circle with radius 2.

The area is,
ଵ ௕
‫׬ = ܣ‬௔ ‫ݎ‬ଶ ݀ߠ
ଶ
Since ‫ = ݎ‬2, thus,
ଵ ଶగ
‫ = ܣ‬ଶ ‫׬‬଴ (2) ଶ ݀ߠ
= 2|ߠ| ଶగ
଴
= 2[2ߨ െ 0]
‫ = ܣ‬4ߨ sq. units

Example(b).
Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ = ݎ‬4(1 + sin ߠ).

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 Solution:
Graphing the curve, ‫ = ݎ‬4( 1 + sin ߠ)
૙
ߠ ‫ݎ‬
ૢ૙
0଴ 4
଴ 6
૚૛૙૙
૟૙૙
30
60଴ 7.46
ࢊࣂ
90଴ 8
࢘
૚૞૙૙ ૜૙૙ 120଴ 7.46
150଴ 6
180଴ 4
૚ૡ૙૙ ૙૙
210଴ 2
240଴ 0.54
૛૚૙૙ ૜૜૙૙ 270଴ 0
300଴ 0.54
330଴ 2
૛૝૙૙ ૜૙૙૙
360଴ 4
૛ૠ૙૙

The area bounded by the curve from ߠ = 0 to ߠ = 360଴ is,

ଵ ௕
‫׬ = ܣ‬௔ ‫ݎ‬ଶ ݀ߠ
ଶ
Since ‫ = ݎ‬4(1 + sin ߠ),
ଵ ଶగ
‫ = ܣ‬ଶ ‫׬‬଴ [4(1 + sin ߠ)] ଶ ݀ߠ
ଶగ
= 8 ‫׬‬଴ (1 + 2 sin ߠ + sinଶ ߠ) ݀ߠ
ଶగ ଵ ଵ
= 8 ‫׬‬଴ ቀ1 + 2 sin ߠ + െ cos2ߠቁ ݀ߠ
ଶ ଶ
ଶగ ଷ ଵ
= 8 ‫׬‬଴ ( + 2 sin ߠ െ cos2ߠ) ݀ߠ
ଶ ଶ
ଷ ଵ ଶగ
= 8 ቚ ߠ െ 2 cosߠ െ cos2ߠቚ
ଶ ସ ଴
ଷ ଵ ଷ ଵ
= 8 ቄቂଶ ( 2ߨ) െ 2 cos( 2ߨ) െ ସ cos 2( 2ߨ)ቃ െ ቂଶ ( 0) െ 2 cos( 0) െ ସ cos 2(0)ቃቅ
‫ = ܣ‬24ߨ = 75.40 sq. units

Example(c).
Find the area bounded by the curve ‫ݎ‬ଶ = 4 cosߠ
Solution: ‫ݎ‬ଶ = 4 cosߠ
Graphing the curve, ߠ ‫ݎ‬
ૢ૙૙ 0଴ 2
30଴ 1.86
૚૛૙૙ ૟૙૙ 60଴ 1.41
90଴ 0
120଴
૚૞૙૙ ૜૙૙ 150 ଴
ࢊࣂ
࢘
180଴
૚ૡ૙૙ ૙૙ 210଴
240଴
270଴ 0
૛૚૙૙ ૜૜૙૙ 300଴ 1.41
330଴ 1.86
૛૝૙૙ ૜૙૙૙
360଴ 2

૛ૠ૙૙

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

 Because of symmetry, we can compute only for the area bounded on
the first quadrant and then multiply by 4, thus,
ଵ ௕
‫ = ܣ‬4 ቀ ቁ ‫׬‬௔ ‫ݎ‬ଶ ݀ߠ
ଶ
Since ‫ݎ‬ଶ = 4 cosߠ, then,
ഏ
‫ = ܣ‬2 ‫׬‬଴మ 4 cosߠ ݀ߠ
ഏ

= 8|sin ߠ| ଴మ
గ
= 8 ቄቂsin ቀ ଶቁቃ െ [sin(0)]ቅ
‫ = ܣ‬8 sq. units

Example(d).
Find the area inside the curve ‫ = ݎ‬2 sin 3ߠ but outside the circle ‫ = ݎ‬1.
Solution:
Graphing the curves, ‫ = ݎ‬2 sin 3ߠ
ૢ૙૙ ࢘= ૚
૚૛૙૙ ૟૙૙ ࢘ = ૛ ‫ ܖܑܛ‬૜ࣂ ߠ ‫ݎ‬
0଴ 0
૞࣊ 30଴ 2
൬૚, ൰
૚ૡ
૚૞૙૙ ૜૙૙ 60଴ 0
90଴ െ2
120଴ 0
૚ૡ૙૙ ࣊ ૙૙
ቀ૚,
૚ૡ
ቁ 150଴ 2
180଴ 0
૛૚૙૙ ૜૜૙૙ 210଴ െ2
240଴ 0
270଴ 2
૛૝૙૙ ૜૙૙૙
300଴ 0
330଴ െ2
૛ૠ૙૙
360଴ 0

From the figure, the area bounded by the curves on the first quadrant,
ఱഏ
ଵ
‫=ܣ‬ ଶ
‫׬‬ഏభఴ [(2 sin 3ߠ) ଶ െ 1ଶ ] ݀ߠ
భఴ
ఱഏ
ଵ
=
ଶ
‫( ׬‬4 sinଶ 3ߠ െ 1)݀ߠ
ഏ
భఴ

భఴ
ఱഏ
ଵ ଵ ଵ
=
ଶ
‫ ׬‬ቂ4 ቀଶ െ ଶ cos6ߠቁ െ 1ቃ ݀ߠ
ഏ
భఴ

భఴ
ఱഏ
ଵ ଵ భఴ
= ቚ2ߠ െ sin 6ߠ െ ߠቚ ഏ
ଶ ଷ
భఴ
ଵ ହగ ଵ ହగ గ ଵ గ
= ቄቂቀ ቁ െ sin 6 ቀ ቁቃ െ ቂቀ ቁ െ sin 6 ቀ ቁቃቅ
ଶ ଵ଼ ଷ ଵ଼ ଵ଼ ଷ ଵ଼
‫ = ܣ‬0.64 sq. units

Since the curves are symmetric, the total area is three times the
area we got because we only compute for the area in the first quadrant,
therefore,
‫ = ܣ‬3(0.64) = 1.92 sq. units

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME

Exercise
Find the area bounded by the region enclosed by the following polar curves.
1. ‫ݎ‬ଶ = 4 cos2ߠ
2. ‫ = ݎ‬1 െ sin ߠ
3. ‫ݎ‬ଶ = sin 2ߠ
4. ‫ = ݎ‬sin 3ߠ
5. ‫ = ݎ‬3(1 െ cosߠ)
6. ‫ = ݎ‬3 െ 2 cosߠ
7. ‫ = ݎ‬3 cos2ߠ
8. ‫ = ݎ‬2 cos3ߠ
9. ‫ݎ‬ଶ = 9 sin 3ߠ
ଶ
10. ‫= ݎ‬ ଶିୡ୭ୱ ఏ

11. ‫ = ݎ‬െ2(1 + cosߠ)

12. ‫ = ݎ‬4 െ 3 cosߠ
13. ‫ = ݎ‬െ3 cos2ߠ
14. ‫ݎ‬ଶ = 4 sinଶ 2ߠ
గ
15. ‫ = ݎ‬sin ߠ ,‫ = ݎ‬cos ቀߠ + ଺ቁ

Author: Harold Jan R. Terano, ECE, ME