The Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals

and Greens Theorem

Math 55 -Elementary Analysis III

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines
Diliman

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Recall: FTOC

Recall from Math 53:

Theorem
Let f (x) be a function that is continuous on [a, b]. Then
Z b
f (x) dx = F (b) F (a)
a

where F 0 (x) = f (x).

Question: Is there an analog of this theorem for line integrals?

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 2/ 19

An analog of FTOC for Line Integrals
Theorem
~
Let C be a smooth curve given by a vector function R(t),
a t b and f be a differentiable function whose gradient
vector f is continuous on C. Then
Z
f dR~ = f (R(b))
~ ~
f (R(a))
C

Proof. By the definition of line integrals,

Z Z b
~
f dR = ~
f (R(t)) ~ 0 (t) dt
R
C a
Z b  
f dx f dy f dz
= + + dt
a x dt y dt z dt
Z b
d ~
= f (R(t)) dt (by the Chain Rule)
a dt
~
= f (R(b)) ~
f (R(a)) (by FTOC) 
Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 3/ 19
Notation

If f is a function of two variables and C is a plane curve with

initial point A(x1 , y1 ) and terminal point B(x2 , y2 ), then
Z
f dR ~ = f (x2 , y2 ) f (x1 , y1 ).
C

If f is a function of three variables and C is a plane curve with

initial point A(x1 , y1 , z1 ) and terminal point B(x2 , y2 , z2 ), then
Z
f dR ~ = f (x2 , y2 , z2 ) f (x1 , y1 , z1 ).
C

In other words, we evaluate f at the endpoints.

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 4/ 19

Independence of Path

Suppose C1 and C2 are two curves (paths) having the same

initial and terminal points. We know in general that
Z Z
~ ~
F dR 6= F~ dR
~
C1 C2

If the equality holds for any two paths C1 and C2 having

Z the
same initial and terminal points, then we say that F~ dR
~ is
C
independent of path.

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 5/ 19

Independence of Path
Theorem
Let F~ beZa continuous vector field with domain D. The line
integral F~ dR
~ is independent of path in D if and only if
Z C
~ ~
F dR = 0 for every closed path C in D.
C
Z
Proof. Let F~ dR
~ be independent of path and consider a
C
closed path C in D. We can regard C = C1 C2 . Note that C1
and C2 have the same initial and terminal points. Hence,
Z Z Z
F~ dR
~ = F~ dR
~+ C2 F~ dR
~
C C1
Z Z
= F~ dR
~ F~ dR
~
C1 C2
= 0 
Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 6/ 19
Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals
Z
We have seen that ~ is independent of path.
f dR
C
If we let F~ = f , i.e., F~ is a conservative vector field with
potential function f , then we have the following theorem:
Theorem (FTLI)
The line integral of a conservative vector field F~ is independent
of path. That is, if C is a smooth curve given by R(t), ~ atb
with initial point A(x1 , y1 , z1 ) and terminal point B(x2 , y2 , z2 )
and F~ is a conservative vector field which is continuous on C,
then Z
F~ dR
~ = f (x2 , y2 , z2 ) f (x1 , y1 , z1 )
C

where f is a potential function for F~ .

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 7/ 19

Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals

The following follows immediately from the previous theorem.

Corollary
Let F~ be a conservative vector field with domain D. Then
Z
F~ dR
~ =0
C

for any closed curve C in D.

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 8/ 19

Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals

Example
Show that theZ vector field F~ (x, y) = y 2 , 2xy is conservative



and evaluate F~ dR
~ where C is the unit circle.
C

Solution. Recall that F~ = hP, Qi is conservative iff Py = Qx .

Since
2
y = 2y = 2xy,
y x
F (x, y) = y 2 , 2xy is conservative.



Now, C is a closed curve so by the previous corollary,

Z
F~ dR
~ = 0.
C

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 9/ 19

Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals

Example
Z
F~ dR
~ where F~ (x, y) = 4x3 y 4 + 2x, 4x4 y 3 + 2y


Evaluate
C
~ = t cos t 1, sin 2t , 0 t .



and C is given by R(t)

Solution. We can use the definition of line integrals but that

would give a nasty solution.
Instead, we can show that F~ is conservative with potential
function
f (x, y) = x4 y 4 + x2 + y 2 + c.
To use FTLI, we find the endpoints of C. Note that
~
R(0) = h1, 0i and ~
R() = h2, 1i .
Z
Hence, F~ dR
~ = f (2, 1) f (1, 0) = 21 1 = 20.
C
Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 10/ 19
Exercises

y2
 
1 Given F~ (x, y) = 1
, 2y tan x ,
1 + x2
a. Show thatZ F~ is conservative and find a potential function.
b. Evaluate F~ dR
~ for any path C from (0, 0) to (1, 2).
C
Z
2 Evaluate sin y dx + x cos y dy, where C is the ellipse
C
x2 + xy + y2 = 1.
3 Find the work done by the force field
F~ (x, y) = hey , xey i in moving an object from the point
A(0, 1) to the point B(2, 0).

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 11/ 19

Orientation of a Curve

Let C be a simple closed curve. The positive orientation of

C refers to the single counterclockwise traversal of C.

Figure: positive orienation Figure: negative orienation

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 12/ 19

Greens Theorem

Theorem
Let C be a positively oriented, piecewise-smooth, simple closed
curve in the plane and let D be the region bounded by C. If P
and Q have continuous partial derivatives on an open region
that contains D, then
Z ZZ  
Q P
P dx + Q dy = dA
C x y
D

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 13/ 19

Remarks and Notation

1 The Greens Theorem relates a line integral along a curve

C and the double integral over the plane region D bounded
by C.
I
2 The notation P dx + Q dy is sometimes used to indicate
C
that the line integral is calculated using the positive
orientation of C.
3 Other texts denote the positively oriented boundary curve
of D as D and hence
ZZ   Z
Q P
dA = P dx + Q dy
x y D
D

4 The Greens Theorem can be regarded, in some sense, as

the analog of FTOC for double integrals.

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 14/ 19

Greens Theorem
Greens Theorem will also hold if the region D is not simply
connected, i.e, the boundary of D is C = C1 C2 (assume they
are positively oriented).

ZZ   ZZ   ZZ  
Q P Q P Q P
dA = dA + dA
x y x y x y
D D0 D 00
Z Z
= P dx + Q dy + P dx + Q dy
D 0 D 00

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 15/ 19

Greens Theorem

The line integrals along each of the common boundary points

are on opposite directions, hence they cancel and we get
ZZ   Z Z
Q P
dA = P dx + Q dy + P dx + Q dy
x y C1 C2
D
Z
= P dx + Q dy
C

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 16/ 19

Greens Theorem
Example
Z
Evaluate x2 y dx + xy 2 dy where C is the boundary of the
C
region D between the circles x2 + y 2 = 4 and x2 + y 2 = 1.

Solution. Note that the region D can be expressed

conveniently in polar coordinates, i.e.,
D = {(r, ) : 1 r 2, 0 2} .
Hence, by Greens Theorem,
(xy 2 ) (x2 y)
Z ZZ  
x2 y dx + xy 2 dy = dA
C x y
D
ZZ
= y 2 x2 dA
D
Z 2 Z 2
= r3 (sin2 cos2 ) dr d = 0
0 1
Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 17/ 19
Exercises
Z
1 Evaluate cos y dx + x2 sin y dy where C is the rectangle
C
from (0, 0) to (0, ) to (2, ) to (2, 0) to (0, 0).
Z
2 Evaluate x2 y dx + xy 2 dy where C is the positively
C
oriented triangle with vertices at (0, 0), (1, 0) and (0, 1).

Z
3 Evaluate (y + e x ) dx + (2x + cos y 2 ) dy, where C is the
C
positively oriented boundary of the region enclosed by the
parabolas y = x2 and x = y 2 .
Z
4 Use Greens Theorem to evaluate F~ dR
~ where

C

F~ (x, y) = x + y 3 , x2 + y and C consists of the curve
y = sin x from (0, 0) to (, 0) and the line segment from
(, 0) to (0, 0).

Math 55 FTLI and Greens Theorem 18/ 19

References

1 Stewart, J., Calculus, Early Transcendentals, 6 ed., Thomson

Brooks/Cole, 2008
2 Dawkins, P., Calculus 3, online notes available at
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/

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