Lesson Title: Applications of Integration: Area Under

Curves Lesson Objectives: At the end of the lesson

you should be able to:
Name:
________________________________________ 1) Apply definite integration to calculate the area under
_________________________ Section: a given curve.
____________ Schedule: 2) Calculate the areas under the curves defined by the
graphs of functions in parametric equations and in
________________________________________
polar equations.
Materials:
Textbook, scientific calculator References:
MAT 076: CALCULUS 2
Differential and Integral Calculus by Love and Rainville
Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9
[Link] [Link]
[Link]
Class number: _______ [Link]
Date: ________________

Productivity Tip:

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Integration can help us solve many types of real world problems. In fact, many useful quantities such as
areas, volumes, arc lengths, and centroids-to mention only a few, can be obtained using definite integrals.
This lesson discusses one of the most important physical applications of integral calculus which is determining
the area of a region in a plane, particularly in terms of areas under curves.

2) Activity 1: What I Know Chart, part 1 (3 mins)

What I Know Questions: What I Learned (Activity 4)

1How do you find the area

under a curve using
integration?

2How do you find the area

under a curve in parametric
equations?
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________________________________________

MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9

Name:
________________________________________ Class number: _______
_________________________ Section: Date: ________________
____________ Schedule:

3How do you find the area

under a curve in polar
equation?

[Link] LESSON
1) Activity 2: Content Notes (13 mins)
I. From our previous lesson, recall that a definite integral is defined as the limit of a sequence of sums (the
Greek letter ‘sigma’, ∑, means sum), i.e. the summation of the areas of approximating rectangles
with height f(xi) and width ∆x, as shown on the Figure.

When x is restricted to lie on the x-axis, the definite integral is known as a Riemann sum (an approximation of
the area under a mathematical curve between two x-values).

∫
The definite integral of a continuous function f over the interval [a, b], denoted by b
af (x)dxis the limit
of a Riemann sum as the number of subdivisions approaches infinity. That is,
n

∫ b
af (x)dx f x x
=n ∑ i Δ
lim ( )
∞
i
=
1
where,
 ba
−
Δ =,
x i= + Δ ⋅
n xaxi
The definite integral as a limit of Riemann’s sums defines the area under the curve of a function. Now, the
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus Part II not only establishes the relationship between differentiation and
integration but also gives us a way to evaluate definite integrals without using the more tedious Riemann’s
sums on calculating areas.
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Part II (also known as the Evaluation

Theorem) If f is continuous over the interval [a, b] and F(x) is any derivative of f(x),

then

b
b

f (x)dx F(x) F(b) F(a).

==−
a ∫
a

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________________________________________

MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9

Name:
________________________________________ Class number: _______
_________________________ Section: Date: ________________
____________ Schedule:

The application of this theorem seems too simple that the area of an entire region can be calculated by just
evaluating an anti-derivative at the first and last endpoints of an interval.
The area under a curve is the area between the graph of the continuous functiony = f (x), thex − axis, and

∫= b
a

the vertical linesx = a, x = band is given by the definite integral ( ) .

A f x dx
To find the area under a curve, it is always helpful to draw a sketch of the curve for the required x-values,
and then remember to apply the key points given below.

Steps to follow when calculating the area under a curve y= f(x),

1. Sketch the region, whose area is to be found,
2. Determine the boundaries/limits a and b,
3. Set up the definite integral and simplify,
4. Evaluate the integral to obtain the required area.

Key Points:
1.) For curves which are entirely above the x-axis, simply substitute to the formula =b
∫ a

A f (x)dx
2.) For curves which are entirely below the x-axis;
= −ba
a) substitute to the formula
∫
A f (x)dxwhere the negative sign accounts to the height f(xi) of the
rectangle that is below the horizontal axis(the y-coordinate of points below the x-axis is negative);

or ∫=
b
a

b) simply take the absolute value of the result, i.e. ( )

A f x dxthis account to the fact that the area
of a region is always positive.

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 ________________________________________

MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9

Name:
________________________________________ Class number: _______
_________________________ Section: Date: ________________
____________ Schedule:

3) For curves which are partly above and partly below the x-axis, we should calculate each area
separately, that is, for the parts of the curve above the axis, and the parts of the curve below the axis and
get the sum of the individual areas, breaking down the interval of integration into sub-intervala < c < b.
Areas below the x-axis will come out negative so that we have to take its absolute value.
∫d
c f x dx
=+
∫
c
a

A f (x)dx ( )

4) For curves which are much easier to solve using horizontal strips/elements
If we are giveny = f (x), then we need to express it as x = f (y)and get the sum from bottom to top In
some cases, it is easier to find the area if we use horizontal slices or strips with lengths x = f (y)and
d

∫
c
widths dy and using the formula A f (y)dy.
=

Now let’s take a look at these four cases in the following problems.

Case1.) A curve that is entirely above the x-axis

Example 1. Find the area under the curve y = 2x,from

Sketch: (Assign x-values and obtain the corresponding values of y)

∫=b
a

Formula : A f (x)dx
2
2 x 2
===
∫ 22 2

A xdx
2
2
0
0

A sq units
= 4.
Alternate solution: Using the formula for the area of a right triangle A=1/2 (base times height).

The sketch shows that the triangle’s base x is equal to 2 and its height y is 4 so that the area, A,

is A=1/2[2(4)] = 4 square units

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MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9

Name: Class number: _______

________________________________________ Date: ________________
_________________________ Section:
____________ Schedule:
________________________________________

Example 2.
Case2.) A curve that is entirely below the x-axis
Example 1. Calculate the area under the curve y=x2- 4.

∫ ()
b

A f x dx
=
a

()
( ) ( ) ( )2
⎢⎡
⎣−−
⎤
33
3

4 x unit x
∫
2 2
2 2 8 32
− 2 8
− 8
A x dx
=−=−=−−
4 42 42
 ⎥=−+−=
2 2
3 3
3 − 3 3 ⎦ 8 3

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________________________________________

MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9

Name:
________________________________________ Class number: _______
_________________________ Section: Date: ________________
____________ Schedule:

2
Example 2. Solve the area bounded by y=x −4, the x-axis and the lines x=−1 and x=2.

Since the required area is totally below the x-axis, we can use Key Point 2a) above which uses the formula
b

∫
A f x dx
=− x ⎥
⎢ ⎦⎤
2
a
() ⎣⎡ 3 2

()
∫
2
−
A x dx
=−−=−−
1 −
4 3 4 x 1

A ( ) ( ) s q units
 ⎢⎡⎟ ⎥
⎢ ⎣ ⎟ ⎠⎞ ⎥ ⎦⎤

( )( )
⎜⎛
⎜⎝−−
⎜
⎜ ⎝⎛
33

2 − ⎢ 8 =−− =⎥
−⎟ 1 ⎣⎡ 1 ⎦⎤
⎟ ⎠⎞
=−− 42 41 =−−+−
3
3 3
3 8 499.
∫= b
a

You will obtain the same result if you opt to use formula 2b) above, that is, using( )
A f x dx
.

Case3.) A region that is partly above and partly below the x-axis

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MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9

Name: Class number: _______

________________________________________ Date: ________________
_________________________ Section:
____________ Schedule:
= +dc
________________________________________ c
Splitting the interval of integration into sub-intervals and applying the formula ( )∫ ∫
A f (x)dx f x dx
a
 2

We have
A x dx x dx
∫∫
3 3
=+
4 0
0
−
4 2
= + 4 4 20
2
A
−
xx
()
− 0 24
AA 4 +−4
=−
4
0
=−+ 2

44
=
A units
2 8

Case4.) For curves which are much easier to solve using horizontal strips/elements

Example 1. Find the area of the region bounded by the curvey = x −1, the axes, and the liney = 5 .

Sketch:

yx
Now we express
=−2 2

x as a function y x
1
of y: =− 1
yx
+=
1
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________________________________________

MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9

Name:
________________________________________ Class number: _______
_________________________ Section: Date: ________________
____________ Schedule:

d
5

()()
==+
∫∫
2
A f y dy y dy
c 3
y
⎢ ⎤
⎣⎡ 0 3
5 A
5 ⎥=+
y =+3 5
1
⎦ 3
0
140

A sq units
= 3 .

II. Area under a Curve (in Parametric Equations)

Example 1: Find the area under the first period of the cycloid x = t −sint, y =1− costfrom t = 0to t = 2π .

∫
Using the formula: =2 t
1 t

A ydx(i.e. Area is equal to the integral of y times the differential of x).

∫∫
π

()()
2
t
A ydx t d t t = = − −
1 cos sin 2 t
 1
π
∫
2
0 ( )( )
A t t dt = − −
1 cos 1 cos 0
π
()2
∫
2
A t t dt = − +

1 2cos cos
0 dt t
⎜
⎝⎛ +

1 cos 2
∫ ⎟
2

⎠⎞
π

At=−+
0
1 2cos 2
2
⎜ 3 ⎟
∫
π
⎝⎛ 1 ⎠⎞
A t t dt = − +
0
2cos cos 2
2 2
π
1
2
3
Attt=−+
2 2sin sin 2
4 0

A units 3
2 π
=

Example 2: Determine the area of the region below the parametric curve given by the following set of
parametric equations. You may assume that the curve traces out exactly once from right to left for the given
range of t.

y = t + 2t 1≤ t ≤ 3
x = 4t − t , 42
32
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∫
formula: =b
a A ydx

MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Name: Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9
________________________________________
_________________________ Section:
Class number: _______
____________ Schedule:
Date: ________________
________________________________________

Solving for the area under the curve using the

()()
42
32

∫
Attdtt=+−
1
24
3

∫ ( )( )
42 2
A t t t t dt = + −
765 3
2 12 2
1 ( ) 6543
⎟
⎟ ⎠⎞
ttt
⎜
⎜ ⎝⎛ ∫
3
4

A t t t t dt
=−+−=−+−
12 2 24 4 12 7 24 t
1
2 6 5
1

⎢⎡ ⎥
⎣ + − − − ⎦⎤
 12 −
663 1 24

()()
A =−−
77 5544

7 31 3 1 (3 1
3 5

481,568
Asu
= = 105 .
4,586.3619 .

III. Area under a Curve (in Polar Coordinates)

The area enclosed by the graph of r = f (θ )and between the rays θ = α and θ = β (where α ≤ β), is given by

between the rays

r= 6π
2
.
Example1. Find the area enclosed by the θ = − and 4π θ =
lemniscate2cosθ

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_________________________ Section:
____________ Schedule:
________________________________________

MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Name:
Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9
________________________________________
 Date: ________________

Class number: _______

β
1

∫
Ard
= 2 /4 2 1 θ /4

απ π

∫∫ − −

()
Add==
2cos cos
π /6
2 θθθθ
π /6
A π ππ−
[] /4

= = − sin sin
−
θ /6
4 sin 6
π
⎜ 1 21+
⎝⎛
2
⎞
A unit
=−−
⎟=
2
2
2
2
⎠

Example 2. Determine the area of the enclosed region defined by

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Name:
________________________________________
_________________________ Section:
____________ Schedule:
________________________________________

MAT 076: CALCULUS 2

Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9

Class number: _______

Date: ________________
 3) Activity 3: Skill-building Activities (with answer key) (18 mins + 2 mins checking)

Solve the following problems:

1. Calculate the area under the curve from x = -1 to x=2.

2. Find the total area of the finite region bounded by

3. Find the area bounded by the curve y=x2-4, the line x=4, and the x-axis.

4. Find the area inside the cardioid

5. Determine the area under the parametric curve defined by the equations x=t2−4 and y=t on the
interval [0, 3].

4) Activity 4: What I Know Chart, part 2 (2 mins)

Please answer the 3rd column in the What I Know Chart from Activity 1 based on what you’ve learned
from this lesson.

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Name:
________________________________________
_________________________ Section:
____________ Schedule:
________________________________________
MAT 076: CALCULUS 2
Student Activity Sheet Lesson #9
5) Activity 5: Check for Understanding (5 mins)

Solve the following problems:

Class number: _______
Date: ________________
a) Find the area bounded by the curve

b) Determine the area under the parametric curve given by the following parametric equations.
()()

c) Find the area inside the cardioid

C. LESSON WRAP-UP

1) Activity 6: Thinking about Learning (5 mins)

List at least 5 important things you’ve learned from this lesson on ‘Area under a Curve.’

FAQs

1. How do we know that the curve is above or below the x-axis?

.
By sketching the region whose area is to be found

2. How do we identify the boundaries or limits of integration when the interval is not given?

The boundaries are obtained directly from the graph

KEY TO CORRECTIONS

32
A = unit4) A= 5) 2
Act #3 1)A =18sq.units2) A = 4sq.units3)2 3
54
A = unit3
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