# Finding the amount of work done (line integrals)

Deimantas

## Homework Statement

Find the amount of work (ω) done by moving a point from (2;0) to (1;3) along the curve y=4-(x^2), in the effect of force F=(x-y;x).

## The Attempt at a Solution

ω = ∫((x-y)dx + xdy)

ω = ∫(x-4+x^2)dx + ∫√(4-y) dy

In the end, I get this: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%28integrate+%28x-4%2Bx^2%29+from+1+to+2%29+%2B+%28integrate+sqrt%284-y%29+from+0+to+3%29
with the final answer 4,5. Is it correct?

Homework Helper
No, that is not correct. In fact, your entire method is wrong. This is a one dimensional problem (a curve) and you are doing a two dimensional integral. In general, you need to write the integral in terms of a single parameter. Here, since we have y equals a function of x, we can use x itself as that parameter.

On the curve $y= 4- x^2$, $dy= -2x dx$. So (x- y) dx= (x- 4+ x^2) dx and $xdy= -2x^2 dx$ That is,
$$\int_{(2, 0)}^{(1, 3)} (x- y)dx+ xdy= \int_{x=2}^1 (x^2+ x- 4- 2x^2)dx= \int_{x=2}^1 (-x^3+ x- 4)dx$$

Deimantas
I thought I must have chosen a wrong method. Thank you very much for giving such a thorough answer.

chief10
No, that is not correct. In fact, your entire method is wrong. This is a one dimensional problem (a curve) and you are doing a two dimensional integral. In general, you need to write the integral in terms of a single parameter. Here, since we have y equals a function of x, we can use x itself as that parameter.

On the curve $y= 4- x^2$, $dy= -2x dx$. So (x- y) dx= (x- 4+ x^2) dx and $xdy= -2x^2 dx$ That is,
$$\int_{(2, 0)}^{(1, 3)} (x- y)dx+ xdy= \int_{x=2}^1 (x^2+ x- 4- 2x^2)dx= \int_{x=2}^1 (-x^3+ x- 4)dx$$