Why Does the Area Between Curves in Terms of y Seem Negative?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter dumbQuestion
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Area Curves
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of the area between curves, specifically addressing the confusion surrounding negative areas when integrating with respect to y. The example referenced is from the tutorial on finding areas between curves, particularly Example 6, which evaluates integrals of functions in terms of both x and y. The user questions why integrating the difference of functions provides the actual shaded area rather than just the net area, especially when parts of the area fall to the left of the y-axis. Ultimately, the user realizes that despite negative values from certain integrals, the difference between the integrals still yields a positive area, clarifying their misunderstanding.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of integral calculus, specifically area under curves
  • Familiarity with functions expressed in both x and y terms
  • Knowledge of the concept of net area versus actual area
  • Experience with evaluating definite integrals
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the process of finding areas between curves using definite integrals
  • Learn about the implications of negative areas in integral calculus
  • Explore the concept of absolute values in integrals for area calculations
  • Review examples of area calculations involving curves in both x and y terms
USEFUL FOR

Students of calculus, educators teaching integral calculus, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of area calculations between curves.

dumbQuestion
Messages
124
Reaction score
0
Hello,
I have a question regarding finding the area between two curves. I will link to a well known example that seems to show up in every calculus textbook!

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/AreaBetweenCurves.aspx

In particular on that page, I am referencing Example 6. And in particular, the page evaluates this integral with the functions in terms of x first, and then at the end of the example, with the function in terms of y. My issue is when the area is being found between the two functions in terms of y. I just don't understand how this is giving us the true area, as a lot of this area falls on the left side of the y axis, so won't the area be "negative" there? i mean even just look at that example and see the line x=y+1. From the region of y=-1 to y=-2, the x values are negative. So say we were looking at the integral of this line from y = -2 to y= 4. What we are really getting is the area between the line and the y-axis from y = -1 to y = 4 and then subtracting off the area between the line and the y-axis from y = -1 to y =-2. Do you see where I'm going with this? Why does just taking the integral of f(x)-g(x) give us the actual shaded area vs just the "net area"? If we want the actual shaded area, why don't we take the integral of the "right function" from -1 to 2.5, then the integral of the "right function" minus the "left function" from 2.5 to 4, then the absolute value of the integral of the "left function" from -1 to 2.5, and the absolute value of the integral of the "left function" minus the "right function" from -1 to -2?By the way I know I'm wrong I'm not at all trying to say I'm right, I just want to understand what I'm not understanding
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
From y=-2 to -1, integrating both functions with respect to y will give negative answers for both, but the integral of the line will be less negative (and hence, greater) than the integral of the parabola, so the difference is still a positive value and you should still subtract the parabola's net area from the line's net area.
 
oooooohI am looking at it right now, and I can see what I was missing. Thank you very much!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K