Area Question: Solving for the Area Between a Parabola and Axes

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the area between a parabola defined by the equation y = x^2 + bx + c and the x and y axes. The problem specifies that one x-intercept is at (1,0) and involves determining the parameters b and c based on the area relationships described.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the integration limits for calculating the area under the curve and question the reasoning behind choosing specific bounds. There is discussion about the implications of the parabola's orientation and the significance of the x-intercepts.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered insights into the integration process and the relationships between the parameters b and c. There are ongoing questions about the setup of the problem, particularly regarding the areas being calculated and the assumptions made about the parabola's behavior.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the area calculations may yield different results depending on the position of the x-intercepts and the orientation of the parabola. There is a concern about how to handle areas that fall below the x-axis in the integration process.

transgalactic
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i added 2 files with the question and the way i tried to solve it
it messes up and nothing come out

if my handwriting is problematic to you
the question is:

parabula y=x^2 +b*x+c cuts the X axes in two points
one of them is (1,0)
the area between the parabula the X and Y axes equals to the area between the parabula and theX axes

i showed it all in the file it includes a graph

please help
 

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What, exactly, are you asking?
 
I am asking how can isolve this question
and find the b, c parameters?
 
Okay, I didn't see your last question on "page 2".

I notice that you are integrating from 0 to 1. Why? Clearly the "other" point at which the parabola crosses the x-axis is NOT "0". You are told that one x-intercept is x= 1 so you know that the function factors as (x-1)(x- a) for some number a. a is the other x-intercept and the area is the integral from a to 1 or 1 to a, depending upon which is positive.

(x-1)(x- a)= x2-(1+a)x+ a= x2+ bx+ c so b= -1-a and c= a.

The "area between the parabola and the x and y axes" is either
[tex]/int_0^1 x^2- (1+a)x+ a dx[/tex]
if 1< a or
[tex]/int_0^a x^2- (1+a)x+ a dx[/tex]
if a< 1.

Similarly, the area between the parabola is either
[tex]\int_1^a x<sup>2</sup>-(1+a)x+ a dx[/itex]<br /> if 1< a or<br /> [tex]\int_a^1 x<sup>2</sup>-(1+a)x+ a dx[/itex]<br /> if a< 1.<br /> <br /> Try both possiblilites and see if you can solve for a. Then of course use b=-1-a and c= a.[/tex][/tex]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
you devided the answers into 2 possiblities
depending if the parbula is positive or negative
if a>1
or a<1
however the direction of the parabule is always towards the positive
part of the Y axes

because the coefficient of X^2 is 1
it cannot flip to the opposite side

?
 
what is that sigh
or int??

regarding the question why i have an integral from 0 to 1
it is one of the areas

the second area is between 1 and the second point

what is that sigh
or int??
 
Last edited:
HallsofIvy said:
(x-1)(x- a)= x^2-(1+a)x+ a= x^2+ bx+ c so b= -1-a and c= a.

The "area between the parabola and the x and y axes" is either
[tex]\int_0^1 x^2- (1+a)x+ a dx[/tex]
if 1< a or
[tex]\int_0^a x^2- (1+a)x+ a dx[/tex]
if a< 1.

Similarly, the area between the parabola is either
[tex]\int_1^a x^2-(1+a)x+ a dx[/tex]
if 1< a or
[tex]\int_a^1 x^2-(1+a)x+ a dx[/tex]
if a< 1.

Try both possiblilites and see if you can solve for a. Then of course use b=-1-a and c= a.

The int and sup are tex code to make it easy to read. maybe this will be clearer now
 
Last edited:
on the second possibility when i check the area between 1 and a
this area is under the X axes line
aren"t we suppose to do [ 0-f(x) ] dx

if i do mesure the are by this [ 0-f(x) ] dx method
i get that the area equals to zero
??

why it is wronge?
 
Last edited:

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