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⬅ Back to Integral Calculus Topics

Area, Volume, Arc Length, Surface Area, and Pappus

Geometric applications of integration, including revolution formulas and Pappus centroid theorems.

Applications: Area Under a Curve

$$A=\int_a^b f(x)\,dx$$

Applications: Area Between Curves

$$A=\int_a^b \bigl(f(x)-g(x)\bigr)\,dx$$
$$A=\int_c^d \bigl(F(y)-G(y)\bigr)\,dy$$

Applications: Volume by Cross-Sections

$$V=\int_a^b A(x)\,dx$$

Applications: Volume of Revolution (Disk)

$$V=\pi\int_a^b \bigl(R(x)\bigr)^2\,dx$$

Applications: Volume of Revolution (Washer)

$$V=\pi\int_a^b \Big(\bigl(R(x)\bigr)^2-\bigl(r(x)\bigr)^2\Big)\,dx$$

Applications: Volume of Revolution (Shell)

$$V=2\pi\int_a^b \bigl(\text{radius}\bigr)\bigl(\text{height}\bigr)\,dx$$
$$V=2\pi\int_c^d \bigl(\text{radius}\bigr)\bigl(\text{height}\bigr)\,dy$$

Applications: Arc Length

$$L=\int_a^b \sqrt{1+\left(\frac{dy}{dx}\right)^2}\,dx$$
$$L=\int_c^d \sqrt{1+\left(\frac{dx}{dy}\right)^2}\,dy$$

Applications: Surface Area of Revolution

$$S=2\pi\int_a^b y\,\sqrt{1+\left(\frac{dy}{dx}\right)^2}\,dx$$
$$S=2\pi\int_a^b x\,\sqrt{1+\left(\frac{dy}{dx}\right)^2}\,dx$$

Pappus' Centroid Theorem I (Surface Area of Revolution)

$$S=2\pi d\,L$$
$$S=2\pi \bar{r}\,L$$

Pappus' Centroid Theorem II (Volume of Revolution)

$$V=2\pi d\,A$$
$$V=2\pi \bar{r}\,A$$

Centroid Distance to Axis

$$d=\bar{r}$$

Area Under a Parabola on an Interval

Find the area under $f(x)=4-x^2$ on the interval $[-1,2]$.

$$A=\int_{-1}^{2}(4-x^2)\,dx=\left[4x-\frac{x^3}{3}\right]_{-1}^{2}$$

$$A=\left(8-\frac{8}{3}\right)-\left(-4+\frac{1}{3}\right)=\boxed{9\text{ sq. units}}$$

Total Area With a Curve Crossing the Axis

Find the total area bounded by $y=x^3$ and the $x$-axis on $[-2,1]$.

The curve is below the axis on $[-2,0]$ and above the axis on $[0,1]$.

$$A=-\int_{-2}^{0}x^3\,dx+\int_0^1x^3\,dx$$

$$A=-\left[\frac{x^4}{4}\right]_{-2}^{0}+\left[\frac{x^4}{4}\right]_0^1=4+\frac{1}{4}$$

$$\boxed{\frac{17}{4}\text{ sq. units}}$$

Area Between Two Parabolic Curves

Find the area bounded by $y^2=x$ and $y=x^2$ in the first quadrant.

In terms of $x$, the upper curve is $y=\sqrt{x}$ and the lower curve is $y=x^2$ from $x=0$ to $x=1$.

$$A=\int_0^1(\sqrt{x}-x^2)\,dx=\left[\frac{2}{3}x^{3/2}-\frac{x^3}{3}\right]_0^1$$

$$\boxed{\frac{1}{3}\text{ sq. unit}}$$

Volume by Disk Method About the x-Axis

Find the volume generated by revolving the region bounded by $y=\sqrt{x}$, $y=0$, and $x=4$ about the $x$-axis.

Using disks, the radius is $y=\sqrt{x}$.

$$V=\pi\int_0^4 y^2\,dx=\pi\int_0^4 x\,dx=\pi\left[\frac{x^2}{2}\right]_0^4$$

$$\boxed{8\pi\text{ cu. units}}$$

Pappus Volume of a Torus

Find the volume of the torus generated by revolving the circle $x^2+y^2=4$ about the line $x=3$.

The circle has radius $2$, so its area is $A=4\pi$. The centroid travels a distance $2\pi(3)=6\pi$.

By Pappus' theorem,

$$V=(6\pi)(4\pi)=\boxed{24\pi^2\text{ cu. units}}$$

Volume by Washer Method: Parabola and Line

The region bounded by $y=x^2$ and $y=x$ is revolved about the $x$-axis. Find the volume using the washer method.

Curves intersect at $x=0$ and $x=1$. On $[0,1]$, $y=x$ is above $y=x^2$. Outer radius $R=x$, inner radius $r=x^2$.

$$V=\pi\int_0^1\left(R^2-r^2\right)dx=\pi\int_0^1\left(x^2-x^4\right)dx$$

$$=\pi\left[\frac{x^3}{3}-\frac{x^5}{5}\right]_0^1=\pi\left(\frac{1}{3}-\frac{1}{5}\right)=\pi\cdot\frac{2}{15}$$

$$\boxed{\frac{2\pi}{15}\text{ cu. units}}$$

Volume by Shell Method About the y-Axis

Find the volume generated by revolving the region bounded by $y=4x-x^2$ and $y=0$ about the $y$-axis.

The parabola intersects the $x$-axis at $x=0$ and $x=4$. Using the shell method (revolving about $y$-axis): shell radius = $x$, shell height = $f(x)=4x-x^2$.

$$V=2\pi\int_0^4 x(4x-x^2)\,dx=2\pi\int_0^4(4x^2-x^3)\,dx$$

$$=2\pi\left[\frac{4x^3}{3}-\frac{x^4}{4}\right]_0^4=2\pi\left(\frac{256}{3}-64\right)=2\pi\cdot\frac{64}{3}$$

$$\boxed{\frac{128\pi}{3}\text{ cu. units}}$$

Area Between $y=\sin x$ and $y=\cos x$

Find the area enclosed between $y=\sin x$ and $y=\cos x$ on $[0,\pi/2]$. (The curves cross once in this interval.)

The curves intersect where $\sin x=\cos x$, i.e., $x=\pi/4$. On $[0,\pi/4]$, $\cos x\ge\sin x$. On $[\pi/4,\pi/2]$, $\sin x\ge\cos x$. Split the integral.

$$A=\int_0^{\pi/4}(\cos x-\sin x)\,dx+\int_{\pi/4}^{\pi/2}(\sin x-\cos x)\,dx$$

$$=\left[\sin x+\cos x\right]_0^{\pi/4}+\left[-\cos x-\sin x\right]_{\pi/4}^{\pi/2}$$

$$=(\sqrt{2}-1)+(\sqrt{2}-1)=\boxed{2\sqrt{2}-2\approx0.828\text{ sq. units}}$$

Volume About a Non-Axis Line

Find the volume generated by revolving the region bounded by $y=\sqrt{x}$, $x=4$, and $y=0$ about the line $y=2$.

Using washers about $y=2$: outer radius $R=2-0=2$ (from $y=2$ to the $x$-axis), inner radius $r=2-\sqrt{x}$ (from $y=2$ to $y=\sqrt{x}$). Wait — re-check: since the region is below $y=2$ and the axis is $y=2$, outer radius is $2-0=2$ and inner radius is $2-\sqrt{x}$.

$$V=\pi\int_0^4\left[R^2-r^2\right]dx=\pi\int_0^4\left[4-(2-\sqrt{x})^2\right]dx$$

$$=\pi\int_0^4(4x^{1/2}-x)\,dx=\pi\left[\frac{8x^{3/2}}{3}-\frac{x^2}{2}\right]_0^4$$

$$=\pi\left(\frac{64}{3}-8\right)=\pi\cdot\frac{40}{3}=\boxed{\frac{40\pi}{3}\text{ cu. units}}$$

Area Between a Parabola and a Line

Determine the area bounded by the curve $y^2=\frac{9x}{5}$ and the line $y=x-2$. Use horizontal strips.

Use horizontal strips because both curves are easy to express as $x$ in terms of $y$.

From the line, $x=y+2$. From the parabola, $x=\frac{5}{9}y^2$.

Find intersections:

$$y+2=\frac{5}{9}y^2\quad\Rightarrow\quad 5y^2-9y-18=0$$

$$y=3,\quad y=-\frac{6}{5}$$

The right boundary is $x=y+2$, and the left boundary is $x=\frac{5}{9}y^2$.

$$A=\int_{-6/5}^{3}\left[(y+2)-\frac{5}{9}y^2\right]dy=\boxed{6.86\text{ sq. units}}$$

Area of a Parabola Above the Axis

Find the area under $y=4-x^2$ from $x=-1$ to $x=2$.

The curve is nonnegative on $[-1,2]$, so ordinary area equals the definite integral.

$$A=\int_{-1}^{2}(4-x^2)\,dx=\left[4x-\frac{x^3}{3}\right]_{-1}^{2}$$

$$A=\left(8-\frac{8}{3}\right)-\left(-4+\frac{1}{3}\right)=\boxed{9\text{ sq. units}}$$

Volume by Cross-Sections With Isosceles Right Triangles

A solid has a circular base of diameter $40$ cm. Every section perpendicular to a fixed diameter is an isosceles right triangle. Find the volume.

The circular base has radius $20$, so with the fixed diameter on the $x$-axis, $y^2=400-x^2$.

An isosceles right triangle with leg length $2y$ has cross-sectional area

$$A(x)=\frac{1}{2}(2y)^2=2y^2=2(400-x^2).$$

By symmetry, this is equivalent to the old board setup:

$$V=2\int_0^{20}(400-x^2)\,dx=\boxed{10666.67\text{ cu. cm}}$$

Pappus Volume for a Parabolic Segment

A parabola has equation $x^2=4y$. Determine the volume of the area bounded by the curve, the line $x=4$, and the $x$-axis when revolved about the $x$-axis.

The bounded parabolic segment has base $4$ and height $4$, so

$$A=\frac{ab}{3}=\frac{(4)(4)}{3}=\frac{16}{3}.$$

Its centroid is $\bar{y}=\frac{3}{10}(4)=1.2$ from the $x$-axis.

By Pappus' centroid theorem,

$$V=2\pi \bar{y}A=2\pi(1.2)\left(\frac{16}{3}\right)=\boxed{\frac{64\pi}{5}}$$

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