Area Between Two Curves

In this unit we will explore more applications of integration by investigating the area between two
curves and three-dimensional volumes.

EX #1: On the grid at right.

1
A. Graph the function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = − 2 (𝑥𝑥 − 2)2 + 6
5
B. Find the value of ∫f ( x ) dx
  .
0

C. Shade the region blue.

1
D. Graph the function 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 4 − 2 𝑥𝑥
5
E. Find the value of ∫g ( x )  dx .
0

F. Shade the region green.

G. How would you find the area of the region that lies between the two graphs 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) and 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)?

©2017 Flamingo MathTM Jean Adams

This leads to the general approach we will use for finding the area between two curves.

EX#2: Find the area between the two curves algebraically. Show your work.
5
𝐴𝐴 = � [𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) − 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)] 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
0

EX #3: Find the Area of the Region between the graphs

of 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 14𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥 3 and 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 4𝑥𝑥

A. Find the intersection of the two curves.

B. Write the integrals, and calculate the area.

©2017 Flamingo MathTM Jean Adams

EX #4: Find the area of one of the regions bounded by the sine and cosine curves.

A. Sketch note 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ≥ 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥)

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) =

𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) =

B. Find bounds [𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏]

where sin 𝑥𝑥 = cos 𝑥𝑥

C. Integrate

EX #5: Horizontal Rectangles ( Y-Axis Approach)

Find the area of region bounded by graphs of
𝑥𝑥 = 3 − 𝑦𝑦 2 and 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑦𝑦 + 1

NOTE: w/r/t/ 𝑥𝑥 → need two integrals for

[−1, 2]𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 [2, 3]
w/r/t/ 𝑦𝑦 → need only one integral for [– 2, 1]

©2017 Flamingo MathTM Jean Adams

EX #6: Area as an Accumulation Process-Revisited

The graph of the function g consists of a quarter-circle and three line segments, shown below.
𝑥𝑥
Let f be the function defined by 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = ∫−1 𝑔𝑔(𝑡𝑡)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑.
y
A. Find 𝑓𝑓(−5)
B. Find all the values of x on the open
interval (−5, 4) where f is decreasing. 3
Justify your answer.
C. Write an equation for the line tangent to 2
the graph of f at 𝑥𝑥 = −1. 1
D. Find the minimum value of f on the x
closed interval [−5, 4]. Justify your answer. −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4
−1
−2

EX #7: The density of cars on 10 miles of the highway approaching Disney World is
approximated by 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 180[4 − ln(2𝑥𝑥 + 3)] , where x is the distance in miles from
the Magic Kingdom entrance. Find the total number of cars on this 10-mile stretch.

©2017 Flamingo MathTM Jean Adams