Unit 6: Applications of Integrals - Key Concepts and Techniques
Unit 6 focuses on applying integration techniques to real-world problems. Specifically, it covers
the use of integrals to calculate areas, volumes, arc lengths, and surface areas. These
applications connect calculus to practical situations and illustrate how integration can be used to
measure quantities that accumulate over continuous intervals.
Area Between Curves
One of the most common applications of definite integrals is finding the area between curves.
If you have two functions, f(x)f(x)f(x) and g(x)g(x)g(x), the area between them on the interval
[a,b][a, b][a,b] is computed by the integral:
Area=∫ab[f(x)−g(x)] dx\text{Area} = \int_{a}^{b} \left[ f(x) - g(x) \right] \, dxArea=∫ab[f(x)−g(x)]dx
This assumes that f(x)f(x)f(x) is greater than g(x)g(x)g(x) over the interval. If the roles are
reversed, the formula would be:
Area=∫ab[g(x)−f(x)] dx\text{Area} = \int_{a}^{b} \left[ g(x) - f(x) \right] \, dxArea=∫ab[g(x)−f(x)]dx
In cases where the curves intersect, the integral computes the total net area between the
curves. If needed, the points of intersection can be found by setting the functions equal to each
other and solving for xxx.
Volumes of Solids of Revolution
The next major application involves calculating the volume of solids of revolution. When a
region in the plane is revolved around a line, it generates a three-dimensional solid. There are
two main methods for finding the volume of such solids: the disk method and the washer
method.
1. Disk Method: If the region is revolved around the x-axis, the volume is given by:
V=π∫ab[f(x)]2 dxV = \pi \int_{a}^{b} \left[ f(x) \right]^2 \, dxV=π∫ab[f(x)]2dx
This formula finds the volume by summing the areas of infinitesimally thin disks with radius
f(x)f(x)f(x) at each point along the x-axis.
2. Washer Method: When the region is revolved around the x-axis but has a hole in the
middle, the volume is given by:
V=π∫ab[R(x)2−r(x)2] dxV = \pi \int_{a}^{b} \left[ R(x)^2 - r(x)^2 \right] \, dxV=π∫ab[R(x)2−r(x)2]dx
where R(x)R(x)R(x) is the outer radius and r(x)r(x)r(x) is the inner radius of the washer.
These formulas can be adapted for rotation around other axes by adjusting the limits and the
function representations.
Arc Length
The arc length of a curve between two points x=ax = ax=a and x=bx = bx=b is another key
application of integration. For a function y=f(x)y = f(x)y=f(x), the formula for arc length is:
L=∫ab1+(dydx)2 dxL = \int_{a}^{b} \sqrt{1 + \left( \frac{dy}{dx} \right)^2} \, dxL=∫ab1+(dxdy)2dx
This formula measures the length of the curve from x=ax = ax=a to x=bx = bx=b by integrating
the infinitesimal distances along the curve. If the function is given in parametric form, the
formula becomes:
L=∫t1t2(dxdt)2+(dydt)2 dtL = \int_{t_1}^{t_2} \sqrt{\left( \frac{dx}{dt} \right)^2 + \left( \frac{dy}{dt}
\right)^2} \, dtL=∫t1t2(dtdx)2+(dtdy)2dt
Surface Area of Solids of Revolution
The surface area of a solid of revolution is another useful application. When a curve is revolved
around an axis, it generates a surface whose area can be calculated using the formula:
A=2π∫abf(x)1+(dydx)2 dxA = 2\pi \int_{a}^{b} f(x) \sqrt{1 + \left( \frac{dy}{dx} \right)^2} \,
dxA=2π∫abf(x)1+(dxdy)2dx
This formula is used to calculate the surface area of the solid formed by rotating the curve
around the x-axis. For rotation around the y-axis or other axes, the formula can be adapted
accordingly.
Applications in Physics and Engineering
Integration has many applications in physics, engineering, and other fields. In physics, integrals
can be used to calculate quantities such as work, electric charge, and fluid flow. For example,
the work done by a force F(x)F(x)F(x) over a distance from aaa to bbb is given by:
W=∫abF(x) dxW = \int_{a}^{b} F(x) \, dxW=∫abF(x)dx
This represents the accumulation of force applied over the distance. Similarly, integrals can
calculate the center of mass, moment of inertia, and other properties of physical systems.
This 500-word summary provides an overview of the key applications of integrals in calculus,
focusing on areas, volumes, arc lengths, and surface areas. These concepts are essential for
solving real-world problems in fields like physics and engineering, where accumulation of
quantities plays a significant role.
