Area Between Two Functions and the Y-Axis: How to Compute the Integral?

  • Thread starter Thread starter physicsernaw
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Axis Integration
physicsernaw
Messages
41
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Compute the area as an integral along the y-axis:
f(x) = x^2 - 6, g(x) = 6 - x^3

Homework Equations


N/A

The Attempt at a Solution



I solve for x in terms of y for both equations and end up with:
f(y) = +/-√(y+6), g(y) = (6-y)^(1/3)

I then look for interception points of the functions f(y) = g(y)
and I find y = -2.

My question is, if there is only one interception point how can I compute the area
between these two functions? I tried plugging into wolfram, and even it says
"cannot compute integral".

Am I reading the problem wrong? Or am I doing something wrong?

EDIT: When the question states "along the y-axis" does it perhaps mean the line x = 0 as a lower bound?
And then to just integrate from x = 0 to the point of interception (2)? That's the only way I can think of doing this.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
You are right when you say it means to take x=0 as a lower bound, at least that would make the most sense according to the problem statement.
 
Does the problem say something to the effect of the area bounded by the functions, f(x), g(x), and the y axis?
 
I find this question peculiar as the graphs ##f(y)## and ##g(y)## will intersect at ##(-2,2)##. This creates two different regions ( areas to compute ) in the second quadrant bounded by the line ##x=0##.

Is there more to this problem at all?
 
Yeah, it would be helpful to see EXACTLY what the problem says.
 
Verbatim:

"In Exercises 27-44, sketch the region enclosed by the curves and compute its area as an integral along the x- or y-axis."

...

28). y = x^2 - 6, y = 6 - x^3, y-axis
 
Ok, yes that says the region bounded by those two curves and the y axis, its not saying that you have to integrate with respect to y, however it would make the problem easier.
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person
Back
Top