# Area Under the Curve

Periapsis
I enrolled in Calculus for my senior year in highschool, so far loving it. Anyways, I have been reading ahead and figuring some things out, but on the topic of Integration, what can you use the area under the curve for? Ive tried searching around in my text book, and maybe just my google skills fail, but I can't seem to find a useable situation for the area under the curve?

Gold Member
2021 Award
Don't get hung up on the geometric aspect of integration. That's like saying the only thing differentiation is good for is to figure out the slope of a curve.

Differentiation and integration have uses FAR beyond those simple geometric interpretations.

Hyrum
If you go far enough ahead you'll come across the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus which states an intimate relationship between Integration and Differentiation. It basically says that given a function f(x) for which an antiderivative F(x) is known, then
$$\int_a^b f(x) = F(b) - F(a)$$

A basic example in physics with real-world application that beautifully illustrates this relationship and shows a need for integration is as follows: An object tracks it's position and records it's total distance traveled at a given time to function d(t). By differentiating this with respect to t, you get it's velocity at any given time v(t)=d'(t). Now, say for some reason you only know the velocity function and need to get distance traveled between two times. You simply Integrate v(t) between those 2 points with respect to t and you have the change in distance.

1 person
Periapsis
Thank you very much! I'll have to read into that Theorem

Hyrum
You're welcome! Glad I could help :)