APPM1004 — Revision Lectures 1

Revision Lecture # 18
The Definite Integral and Area under the curve

Outcomes of this lecture

After studying this lecture and practising examples, you will be able to:

1.) use the definite integral to calculate an area

ˆ enclosed by the graph of a function f (x) and the x-axis over a given interval on the
x-axis.

ˆ enclosed by the graphs of two functions over a given interval on the x-axis.

Pre-knowledge and Skills

You will need to be completely familiar with

1.) finding the points at which a function cuts the x-axis.

2.) finding the points of intersection of two graphs.

3.) the rules of integration from Lecture 15 and 16.

4.) evaluating a definite integral.

APPM1004 — Revision Lectures 2

Revision Lecture # 18
The Definite Integral and Area under the curve

ˆ If y = f (x) is positive (or zero) for all the x-values in an interval a ≤ x ≤ b, then the
value of the definite integral, Z b
f (x) dx,
a

is equal to the area between the function and the x-axis from x = a to x = b.

ˆ If the value of y = f (x) is negative (or zero) for all the x-values in an interval a ≤ x ≤ b,
Z b
then the definite integral f (x) dx < 0, however the absolute value of the definite
a
integral, Z b
f (x) dx ,
a

is equal to the area between the function and the x-axis from x = a to x = b.

NB: The absolute value of a number is equal to its distance from zero: eg. |−3| = 3.
APPM1004 — Revision Lectures 3

Revision Lecture # 18
The Definite Integral and Area under the curve

ˆ If the function cuts the x-axis at a point where x = c ∈ [a , b] then the total area
enclosed by the graph of the function and the x-axis over the interval [ a , b ] must be
calculated as the sum of two separate areas, A1 over sub-interval [a , c] and A2 over
sub-interval [c , b].

◦ If f (x) is negative on the sub-interval [a , c] and positive on the sub-interval [c , b].

Z c Z b
then the total area is equal to f (x) dx + f (x) dx.
a c
◦ If f (x) is positive on the sub-interval [a , c] and negative on the sub-interval [c , b],
then the total area is equal to

Z c Z b
then the total area is equal to f (x) dx + f (x) dx .
a c
APPM1004 — Revision Lectures 4

Revision Lecture # 18
Area Between Two Functions

ˆ Given two functions, f (x) and g(x).

ˆ To determine the finite area enclosed between the functions, apply the following three
steps.

Step 1.

◦ Since no interval is given, the area is bounded by the points of intersection

of the two functions.
◦ Solve f (x) = g(x) to find the interval [ a , b ] over which to integrate.

Step 2.

◦ Choose a test value x = c ∈ [a , b].

◦ Evaluate f (c) and g(c) to check which is the bigger function over the interval.
◦ In the diagram above f (x) > g(x) for all values of x ∈ (a , b).

Step 3. Evaluate
Z b
Area = ‘bigger’ function − ‘smaller’ function dx
a
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Revision Lecture # 18
Area Between Two Functions

ˆ Example 1
Determine the finite area enclosed between the functions

f (x) = x2 − 2x + 6 and g(x) = −x2 + 8x − 2.

Step 1. Solve f (x) = g(x) to find the interval [ a , b ] over which to integrate.

x2 − 2x + 6 = −x2 + 8x − 2

⇒ 2x2 − 10x + 8 = 0

⇒ 2(x2 − 5x + 4) = 0

⇒ 2(x − 1)(x − 4) = 0

⇒ the functions intersect at x = 1 and x = 4.

Step 2. Choose a test value x ∈ [ 1 , 4 ], say x = 2.

◦ f (2) = 6 and g(2) = 10 ⇒ g(x) > f (x)on the interval (1 , 4).

Step 3.
Z 4
Area = g(x) − f (x) dx
1
Z 4
= −2x2 + 10x − 8 dx
1
4
2 3 2
= − x + 5x − 8x
3 1
   
2 3 2 2 3 2
= − (4) + 5(4) − 8(4) − − (1) + 5(1) − 8(1)
3 3

= (5, 333 . . .) − (−3, 666 . . .)

= (5, 333 . . . + 3, 666 . . .)

2
= 9−−units
−−−→
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Revision Lecture # 18
Area Between Two Functions

ˆ Example 1 cont.
The calculated area is shown below.

◦ It is not altogether necessary to test for the ‘bigger’ and ‘smaller’ function on an
interval as long as the absolute value of the definite integral that represents an
area, is calculated.

◦ Because f (x) < g(x) on the interval [ 1 , 4 ], the definite integral

Z 4
f (x) − g(x) dx = −5, 333 . . . − (3, 666 . . .) = −9,
1

is negative.

◦ However, the absolute value of this integral will equal the required area
Z 4
f (x) − g(x) dx = |−5, 333 . . . − (3, 666 . . .)| = |−9| = 9
1
APPM1004 — Revision Lectures 7

Revision Lecture # 18
Area Between Two Functions

ˆ Given two functions, f (x) and g(x) that may intersect inside the interval [ a , b ].

ˆ To determine the finite area enclosed between the functions over the interval [ a , b ],
apply the following four steps.

Step 1. Check for points of intersection inside the given interval [ a , b ].

◦ Solve f (x) = g(x).

◦ If f (c) = g(c) and c ∈
/ [a , b] then discard c.

Step 2.

◦ Use all the values c1 ; c2 ; . . . ; cn found in Step 1, that occur inside the interval,
[ a , b ], to create the sub-intervals, [ a , c1 ]; [ c1 , c2 ]; . . . ; [ cn , b ].

Step 3.

◦ Calculate the absolute value of the definite integral of [f (x) − g(x)] over
each sub-interval separately.
Z c1
area1 = f (x) − g(x) dx ,
a
Z c2
area2 = f (x) − g(x) dx , etc.
c1

◦ NB: By taking the absolute value over each sub-interval, it is not necessary
to test to see which is the bigger function.

Step 4. Sum the areas: Total area = area1 + area2 + · · ·

APPM1004 — Revision Lectures 8

Revision Lecture # 18
Area Between Two Functions

ˆ Example 2
Evaluate the total area enclosed by the functions,

f (x) = 3x2 − 75x + 300 and g(x) = −2x2 + 10x,

over the interval [ 1 , 8 ], rounded to two decimal places.

Step 1.

◦ Solve f (x) = g(x).

3x2 − 75x + 300 = −2x2 + 20x

⇒ 5x2 − 95x + 300 = 0

⇒ 5(x − 4)(x − 15) = 0

⇒x=4 ; x = 15 are solutions

4 ∈ [1, 8] ; 15 ∈
/ [ 1 , 8 ], discard x = 15

Step 2.

◦ Create the sub-intervals, [ 1 , 4 ]; [ 4 , 8 ]

Step 3.

◦ Calculate the absolute value of the definite integrals over each sub-interval.
Z 4
A1 = f (x) − g(x) dx ,
1
Z 8
A2 = f (x) − g(x) dx .
4

◦ Find the indefinite integral first.

Z Z
5 95
f (x) − g(x) dx = 5x2 − 95x + 300 dx = x3 − x2 + 300x + c
3 2
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Revision Lecture # 18
Area Between Two Functions

Step 3. cont.

◦ Then calculate the areas over each sub-interval.

4
5 3 95 2
A1 = x − x + 300x
3 2 1
   
5 3 95 2 5 3 95 2
= (4) − (4) + 300(4) − (1) − (1) + 300(1) ,
3 2 3 2

= |(546, 666 . . .) − (254, 166 . . .)| = | 292, 5 | = 292, 5

8
5 3 95 2
A2 = x − x + 300x
3 2 4
   
5 3 95 2 5 3 95 2
= (8) − (8) + 300(8) − (4) − (4) + 300(4) ,
3 2 3 2

= |(213, 333 . . .) − (546, 666 . . .)| = |−333, 333 . . .| = 333, 333 . . .

Step 4.

◦ Sum the areas: A1 + A2 .

Total area = 292, 5 + 333, 333 . . . = 625, 83 rounded to two decimal places.
APPM1004 — Revision Lectures 10

Revision Lecture # 18
Area between two functions and the Definite Integral

ˆ NB: The definite integral is used as a ‘tool’ to evaluate the area between two functions.
The definite integral evaluated over an interval is not automatically equal to the area
over that interval.

ˆ The value of the definite integral of f (x) − g(x) , from Example 2, over the interval
[ 1 , 8 ], has a very different value from the area, and is given by
Z 8 8
5 3 95 2
f (x) − g(x) dx = x − x + 300x
1 3 2 1
   
5 3 95 2 5 3 95 2
= (8) − (8) + 300(8) − (1) − (1) + 300(1)
3 2 3 2

= (213, 333 . . .) − (254, 166 . . .)

= −40, 8333 . . .
−−−−−−−−−→

ˆ In order to use the definite integral to calculate the area enclosed by f (x) and g(x)
over the interval [ a , b ], the absolute value of the definite integrals must be calculated
separately over each sub-interval.

ˆ In the previous example the total area enclosed by the functions over the interval
[ 1 , 8 ], was given by,

Z 4 Z 8
A1 + A2 = f (x) − g(x) dx + f (x) − g(x) dx
1 4

= 292, 5 + | − 333, 33...|

= 625, 833...
−−−−−−−→
APPM1004 — Revision Lectures 11

Revision Lecture # 18
Exercises

1. Calculate the area between the function f (x) = x + 1 and the x-axis from x = −2 to
x = 3.

2. Calculate (rounded to two decimal places) the area between the function f (x) = x2 −
6x + 5 and the x-axis from x = 0 to x = 4.

3. Calculate (rounded to two decimal places) the area between the functions,

f (x) = −x2 + 10 and g(x) = −x2 + 4x + 2,

from x = 0 to x = 3.

4. Calculate (rounded to two decimal places) the area that is bounded by the functions,

1 1
f (x) = x2 + x − 3 and g(x) = − x2 + x + 1.
2 2