Area between curves and integration

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the area between the curves defined by the functions y=x and y=x^3 over the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 2, specifically focusing on integrating with respect to y rather than x.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to set up integrals for calculating the area between the curves with respect to y, expressing uncertainty about the formulation of the last integral. Some participants question the necessity of switching to dy integration and suggest alternative approaches using dx.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different methods of integration and discussing the limits of integration. Some guidance has been offered regarding the setup of integrals, but there is no explicit consensus on the best approach to take.

Contextual Notes

The original poster references incomplete notes from a class, indicating a lack of clarity on the integration process with respect to y. There is also mention of a specific area value (5/2) that the original poster believes should be the result.

Hurricane3
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This isn't a homework question, but from my notes that I couldn't figure out (wasn't able to copy the rest of the down)

I have two functions:
y=x
y=x^3 , 0 \leq x \leq 2

and I have to find the area between these two curves.

I know how to do it with respect to x, but I have troubles integrating with respect to y.

From a quick sketch of the graph, it seems like I will have three different integrals.

I can formulate the first two definite integrals:

\int^{1}_{0} (y^1/3 - y) dy + \int^{2}_{1}(y-y^1/3)dy

but I don't know how to forumate the last one... help!

The area should be 5/2.

Thanks
 
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I'm not sure why you inverted the problem into a dy integration. You can do that but then the upper limit is definitely not 2. Just integrate (x-x^3)dx between 0 and 1 and (x^3-x)dx between 1 and 2 and add them.
 
Because this was part of the notes. In the notes, we integrated with respect to x and the professor showed us how to integrate with respect to y as well. Except I didn't have time to copy that part of the notes (integration with respect to y), so I was just trying to do it just now, but I don't know what's the upper limit for the third part of the integration...
 
If you need to do it that way, then y^(1/3)-y from 0 to 1. y-y^(1/3) from 1 to 2 and 2-y^(1/3) from 2 to 8. Do you see why? Draw the graph. x^3=y, 2^3=8.
 
yeah i see it now! thanks =)
 

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