Area under curve
Definite integrals
Properties:
$ - \int_a^b f(x) \phantom{.} dx = $ $ \int_b^a f(x) \phantom{.} dx $
$ \text{If } k \text{ is a constant, } \int_a^b k f(x) \phantom{.} dx = $ $ k \int_a^b f(x) \phantom{.} dx $
$ \int_a^b f(x) \pm g(x) \phantom{.} dx = $ $ \int_a^b f(x) \phantom{.} dx \pm \int_a^b g(x) \phantom{.} dx $
$ \int_a^b f(x) \phantom{.} dx + \int_b^c f(x) \phantom{.} dx = $ $ \int_a^c f(x) \phantom{.} dx $
Area bounded by curve and x-axis
$ \text{Area bounded} = $ $ \int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x) \phantom{.} dx $
$ \text{Area bounded} = $ $ - \int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x) \phantom{.} dx $
Example
The figure shows part of the curve $y = 2 \sin 3x + 1$, meeting the $x$-axis at the points $A$ and $B$.
(i) Show that the $x$-coordinate of $A$ is ${7 \over 18} \pi$ and that the $x$-coordinate of $B$ is ${11 \over 18} \pi $.
(ii) Show that the total area of the shaded regions is $ \left( \sqrt{3} + {3 \over 18}\pi + {2 \over 3} \right) \text{ units}^2 $.
Area bounded by curve and y-axis
$ \text{Area bounded} = $ $ \int_{y_1}^{y_2} f(y) \phantom{.} dy $
$ \text{Area bounded} = $ $ - \int_{y_1}^{y_2} f(y) \phantom{.} dy $
Example
The figure shows part of the curve $y = \ln (x + 1) $, which passes through the origin.
(i) Express $x$ in terms of $y$.
Answer: $ x = e^y - 1 $
(ii) Hence, find the exact area bounded by the curve $y = \ln (x + 1)$, the line $y = \ln 4$ and the $y$-axis.
Answer: $ (3 - \ln 4) \text{ units}^2 $
Area bounded by curve and line
Sum of two areas:
For this case, the area bounded by the line $y = x + 1$ and the curve $y = -x^2 + 2x + 3$ is the sum of the area of regions $A$ and $B$:
- Region $A$ is bounded by the line $y = x + 1$ and is a triangle
- Region $B$ is bounded by the curve $y = -x^2 + 2x + 3$ and can be found by integration, i.e. $ \int_2^3 - x^2 + 2x + 3 \phantom{.} dx $
Difference of two areas:
For this case, the area bounded by the line $y = x + 1$ and the curve $y = -x^2 + 2x + 3$ is the difference of the area of regions $C + D$ and $D$:
- Regions $C$ and $D$ is bounded by the curve $y = -x^2 + 2x + 3$ and can be found by integration, i.e. $ \int_{-1}^2 - x^2 + 2x + 3 \phantom{.} dx $
- Region $D$ is bounded by the line $y = x + 1$ and is a triangle
Example
The diagram above shows part of the curve $y = {3x + 1 \over x - 1}$. Points $P(2, 7)$ and $Q(3, 5)$ lie on the curve.
(from think! A Maths Workbook Worksheet 15C)
(i) Express ${3x + 1 \over x - 1}$ in the form of $a + {b \over x - 1}$.
Answer: $ 3 + {4 \over x - 1} $
(ii) Find the area of the shaded region.
Answer: $ 0.227 \text{ units}^2 $
Past year O level questions
| Year & paper | Comments |
|---|---|
| 2024 P1 Question 13b | Area bounded by curve, tangent to the curve and x-axis |
| 2022 P2 Question 10 | Area bounded by curve, tangent to the curve and y-axis |
| 2021 P1 Question 14 | Area bounded by curve, normal to the curve and axes |
| 2021 P2 Question 10 | Area bounded by curve and line (worth 12 marks since there are a lot of things to solve for) |
| 2020 P1 Question 10 | Area bounded by curve and line |
| 2019 P2 Question 9 | Area bounded by curve, tangent to the curve and y-axis |
| 2018 P2 Question 10 | Area bounded by curve, tangent to the curve and x-axis |
| 2017 P1 Question 11ii | Area bounded by curve and line |
| 2016 P2 Question 9iii | Area bounded by curve and x-axis (one region above x-axis and another region below the axis) |
| 2015 P1 Question 12b | Area bounded by curve and x-axis |
| 2014 P2 Question 11 | Area bounded by curve and line (Need to use differentiation result from first part) |
| 2013 P2 Question 11 | Area bounded by curve and line |
| 2012 P2 Question 11 | Area bounded by curve, normal to the curve and x-axis |
| 2011 P2 Question 9 | Area bounded by curve, tangent to the curve and x-axis |
| 2010 P2 Question 7 | Area bounded by curve and line |
| 2009 P2 Question 6 | Area bounded by curve and x-axis (one region above x-axis and another region below the axis) |
| 2008 P2 Question 8iii | Area bounded by curve and axes |
| 2007 P2 Question 12 Or | Area bounded by curve, tangent to the curve and x-axis |
| 2007 P1 Question 5 | Area bounded by curve and x-axis (Need to use differentiation from previous part) (Link - Subscription required) |
| 2006 P1 Question 12 Either | Area bounded by curve, normal to the curve and x-axis |
| 2005 P2 Question 12 Either | Area bounded by curve, normal to the curve and x-axis |
| 2004 P1 Question 12 Or iii | Area bounded by curve and axes |
| 2004 P2 Question 3 | Area bounded by curve and axes |
| 2004 P2 Question 12 Or i | Area bounded by curve and axes |
| 2003 P1 Question 5 | Area bounded by curve and axes (Link - Subscription required) |
| 2002 P1 Question 4 | Area bounded by line and curve |