Module-IV: Vector Calculus

Lesson 45

Green’s Theorem in the Plane

45.1 Introduction
The theorem provides a relationship between a double integral over a region and the line
integral over the closed curve C bounding R. Green’s theorem is also called the first
fundamental theorem of integral vector calculus.

45.2 The Main Result

45.2.1 Theorem: (Green’s theorem)

Let C be a piecewise smooth simple closed curve bounding a region R. If f, g, ∂f / ∂y, ∂g / ∂x

are continuous on R, then

 ∂g ∂f 
∫ f ( x, y)dx + g ( x, y)dy =
C
∫∫  ∂x − ∂y dxdy
R

The integration being carried in the positive direction (counter clockwise direction) of C.

Proof: We shall prove Green’s theorem for a particular case of the region R.

Let the region R be simultaneously expressed in the following forms.

R : u1 ( x ) ≤ y ≤ u2 ( x ) ,  a ≤ x ≤ b

R : v1 ( x ) ≤ x ≤ v2 ( x ) ,  c ≤ y ≤ d

We obtain

∂g
d  v2 ( y ) ∂g  d

∫∫R ∂x dxdy
= ∫c  v=
∫( x ) ∂x dx dy ∫ [ g (v ( y), y) − g (v ( y), y)]dy
2 1
1  c

d c
= ∫ g (v2 ( y), y)dy + ∫ g (v1 ( y), y)dy =
c d
∫ g ( x, y)dy
C

the integration being carried in the counter clockwise direction.

We obtain

∂f
b  u2 ( y ) ∂f  b

∫∫R ∂x dxdy
= ∫a  u=
∫( x ) ∂y dy dy ∫ [ f ( x, u ( x)) − f ( x, u ( x))]dx
2 1
1  a

b a

∫ f ( x, u2 ( x))dx + ∫ g ( x, u1 ( x))dx =
=
a b
− ∫ f ( x, y )dx
C
 Green’s Theorem in the Plane

the integration being carried in the counter clockwise direction. Therefore

 ∂g ∂f 
∫ f ( x, y)dx + g ( x, y)dy =
C
∫∫  ∂x − ∂y dxdy .
R

45.2.2 Example : Evaluate

∫ (x + y 2 )dx + ( y + 2 x)dy, where C is the boundary of the region in the first quadrant that is
2

bounded by the curves y 2 = x and x 2 = y .

Solution: The curves intersect at (0,0) and (1,1). The bounding curve is C. We have
f ( x, y=
) x 2 + y 2 and g ( x, y )= y + 2 x .

Using the Green’s theorem, we obtain

∫ (x + y 2 )dx + ( y + 2 x)dy= ∫∫ (2 − 2 y)dxdy

2

C R
1 x 1
x
∫ ∫ (2 − 2 y)dydx =
= ∫ (2 y − y ) |
2
2
dx
0 x2 0 x
1
= ∫ (2
0
x − x − 2 x 2 + x 4=
)dx 11/ 30

45.2.3 Example: Find the work done by the force F = ( x 2 − y 3 )i + ( x + y ) j in moving a

particle along the closed path C containing the curves x + y= 0, x 2 + y =
2
16 and y = x in the
first and fourth quadrants.

Solution: The work done by the force is given by

W= W= ∫ F .dr= ∫ ( x − y 3 )dx + ( x + y )dy.

2

C C

The closed path C bounds the region R. Using the Green’s theorem, we obtain

∫ (x − y 3 )dx + ( x + y )dy= ∫∫ (1 + 3 y
2 2
)dxdy.
C R

It is convenient to use polar coordinates to evaluate the integral. The region R is given by

= θ , y r sin θ , 0 ≤ r ≤ 4, −π / 4 ≤ θ ≤ π / 4.
R : x r cos=

Therefore,

2
 Green’s Theorem in the Plane

π /4 4 π /4
 r2 3 4 2  4
∫∫ (1 + 3 y )dxdy =∫ ∫ + θ θ =∫  2 + 4 r sin θ  0 dθ
2 2 2
(1 3r sin ) rdrd
R −π /4 0 −π /4  
π /4 π /4
= ∫ (8 + 192sin θ )dθ = ∫ [8 + 96(1 − cos 2θ )]dθ
2

−π /4 −π /4

π /4
2[104θ − 48sin 2θ ]
= 52π − 96.
=
0

−x
=
45.2.4 Example: Verify the Green’s theorem for f ( x, y ) e= sin y, g ( x, y ) e − x cos y and C
is the square with vertices at (0,0), (π/2,0), (π/2,π/2), (0,π/2).

Solution: We can write the line integral as

 
∫
C
fdx + gdy =  ∫ + ∫ + ∫ + ∫
 C1 C2 C3 C4
 ( fdx + gdy )


where C1 , C2 , C3 and C4 are the boundary lines. We have along C1 : y= 0, 0 ≤ x ≤ π / 2 and

∫e
−x
(sin ydx + cos ydy ) =
0,
C1

: x π / 2, 0 ≤ y ≤ π / 2 and
along C2=

π /2

∫e ∫e
−π /2
−x
(sin ydx + cos =
ydy ) ydy e −π /2 ,
cos=
C2 0

C3 : y π / 2, π / 2 ≤ x ≤ 0 and
along=

∫e ∫ e dx =
e −π /2 − 1,
−x −x
(sin ydx + cos ydy ) =
C3 π /2

: x 0, π / 2 ≤ y ≤ 0 and
along C4=

∫e ∫ cos ydy =
−x
(sin ydx + cos ydy ) = −1.
C4 π /2

Therefore,
π /2 π /2

∫ fdx + gdy =∫∫ (−2e cos y )dxdy =∫ ∫ (−2e cos ydxdy ) =2(e −π /2 − 1).
−x −x

C R 0 0

45.2.5 Example: Now we use the Green’s theorem to show that

3
 Green’s Theorem in the Plane

∂u
∫ ∂n ds= ∫∫ ∇ udxdy,
2

C R

where ∇ 2 is the Laplace operator ∂ 2 / ∂x 2 + ∂ 2 / ∂y 2 and n is the unit outward normal to C.

Solution:

Let the position vector of a point on C, in terms of the arc length r=

( s ) x( s )i + y ( s ) j.

Then, the tangent vector to C is given by

dr dx dy
=
T = i+ j
ds ds ds

and the normal vector n is given by (since n.T = 0 )

dy dx
=
n i− j.
ds ds

Note that n is the unit normal vector. Now

∂u
∫ ∂n ds= ∫ ∇u.nds
C C

since ∂u / ∂n is the directional derivative of u in the direction of n. Therefore, using Green’s

theorem, we obtain

∂u  ∂u ∂y ∂u ∂x   ∂u ∂u 
∫ ∂n ds =
C
∫  ∂x ∂s − ∂y ∂s  ds =
C
∫  − ∂y dx + ∂x dy 
C

∂ u ∂ u
2 2

∫∫R  ∂x 2 + ∂y 2 dxdy =
= ∫∫R ∇ udxdy.
2

Suggested Readings

Courant, R. and John, F. (1989), Introduction to Calculus and Analysis, Vol. II, Springer-
Verlag, New York.

Jain, R.K. and Iyengar, S.R.K. (2002) Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Narosa
Publishing House, New Delhi.

Jordan, D.W. and Smith, P. (2002) Mathematical Techniques, Oxford University Press,
Oxford.

Kreyszig, E. (1999) Advanced Engineering Mathematics, John Wiley, New York.

4
 Green’s Theorem in the Plane

Piskunov, N. (1974) Differentail and Integral Calculus, Vol. II, MIR Publishers, Moscow.

Wylie, C. R. and Barrett, L.C. (2003) Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Tata McGraw-
Hill, New Delhi.