Centroid of a triangle using Green's theorem

[compliant]

Homework Statement

Given a curve C that starts from the origin, goes to (1,0) then goes to (0,1), then back to the origin, find the centroid of the enclosed area D.

Homework Equations

\bar{x} = {1/(2A)}*\int_C {x^2 dy}\bar{y} = -{1/(2A)}*\int_C {y^2 dx}

The Attempt at a Solution

Well, obviously the path of C is that of a triangle, and the area is 1/2, which means I have, for x-bar and y-bar, {1/4}\int_C {x^2 dy} and {1/4}\int_C {y^2 dx} respectively. My problem is: what are the upper and lower bounds for the line integral?

 

[Dick]

I don't think you can do it as a line integral. Why don't you set it up as a area integral dx*dy? That's the usual way.

 

[compliant]

Because I'm only supposed to use those equations to solve the problem.

 

[Billy Bob]

Do you mean evaluate the line integral directly? Break C up into three segments.

C1 goes (0,0) to (1,0).

C2 goes (1,0) to (0,1).

C3 goes (0,1) to (0,0).

Calculate each of the three line integrals separately, then add.

Do you want to parametrize each one separately? Example: C3 is x=0, y=1-t, for 0<t<1.

 

[Dick]

Then you have to break the integral up into three parts. Integrate over each side of the triangle separately. And your integrands are wrong. You integrate x^2 and y^2 over the area dA=dx*dy to get the moment. If you are going to do it as a contour you need different integrands.