Q.Area of the region bounded by the curve y=cosx between x=0 and x=π is
(A) 2 sq units
(B) 4 sq units
(C) 3 sq units
(D) 1 sq units
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Area Under Curve
Area Under a Curve
How do you measure the area of a region whose top edge is curved rather than a straight line? For rectangles and triangles we have formulas, but a shape bounded above by y=f(x) has no simple side lengths to plug in. The definite integral is the tool built exactly for this.
The core idea: area as a limit of strips
Take the region under y=f(x) (with f(x)≥0), above the x-axis, between x=a and x=b. Slice it into many thin vertical strips. A strip at position x with tiny width dx is almost a rectangle of height f(x), so its area is about f(x)dx. Add up all the strips and let their width shrink to zero: the sum becomes the definite integral
Area=∫abf(x)dx.
This is why the integral is the area — it is the exact total of infinitely many infinitesimally thin rectangles.
How to compute it
Find an antiderivative F(x) (so F′(x)=f(x)) and evaluate at the two limits — the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus:
∫abf(x)dx=F(b)−F(a).
For example, the area under y=x2 from 0 to 1 is [3x3]01=31.
Cases you must handle carefully
The integral gives signed area. Where the curve dips below the x-axis, f(x)<0 and ∫fdx comes out negative. For the geometric (positive) area of such a stretch, integrate the absolute value or take the magnitude of that piece: Area=∫ab∣f(x)∣dx.
If a curve crosses the x-axis inside [a,b], split the integral at each crossing and add the sizes of the parts.
Area with respect to the y-axis
When the region is bounded by a curve x=g(y) and the y-axis between y=c and y=d, slice horizontally instead: …
Concept: Area Under Curve — area is the integral of ∣y∣ with respect to x over the given interval, because area is always positive.
Steps:
- The curve y=cosx is positive on [0,π/2) and negative on (π/2,π].
- Area = ∫0π∣cosx∣dx=∫0π/2cosxdx+∫π/2π(−cosx)dx.
- Compute: ∫0π/2cosxdx=[sinx]0π/2=1, …
The area under y=cosx from x=0 to x=π is found by splitting the integral at x=π/2, where the curve crosses the x-axis, and taking the absolute value of each part. The total area is 2 square units, so option (A) is correct.
The key idea here is that "area bounded by a curve" always means geometric area — the actual physical region, not the signed area. When a curve dips below the x-axis, the definite integral gives a negative value, but area is always positive. So we must split the interval wherever the curve changes sign.
For y=cosx between 0 and π, the curve is positive from 0 to π/2 and negative from π/2 to π. The total area is the sum of the absolute areas of these two parts.
Let’s work through it step by step.
-
Identify where the curve crosses the x-axis.
Solve cosx=0 in [0,π].
cosx=0 at x=π/2. So the sign changes at this point.
-
Set up the area as a sum of absolute integrals.
Area =∫0π/2cosxdx+∫π/2π(−cosx)dx
The second integral uses −cosx because cosx is negative there, and we want the positive magnitude.
-
Evaluate the first integral.
∫0π/2cosxdx=[sinx]0π/2=sin(π/2)−sin(0)=1−0=1.
-
Evaluate the second integral.
∫π/2π(−cosx)dx=−[sinx]π/2π=−(sinπ−sin(π/2))=−(0−1)=1.
-
Add the two parts.
Total area =1+1=2 square units. …
Method: Geometric area under a sign-changing curve
"Area bounded by the curve and the x-axis" always means positive, physical area. When the curve crosses the axis inside the interval, split at the crossing and take magnitudes.
Steps
Step 1: Solve f(x)=0 on the interval to find the crossing points.
For y=cosx this happens at odd multiples of 2π; keep the ones lying inside your range.
Step 2: Split the interval at each crossing and fix the sign.
On stretches where the curve is above the axis keep f(x); where it is below, integrate −f(x) so the contribution stays positive. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Evaluating ∫0πcosxdx directly.
Why it's wrong: this gives [sinx]0π=0, the net signed area, because the curve is above the axis on [0,2π] and below on [2π,π] and the two cancel. Correct approach: split at the zero x=2π and add the magnitudes, 1+1=2.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the curve goes negative after 2π. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 20 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-FN1 markMCQQ.The area bounded by the curves y−1=cosx, y=sinx and the X-axis between x=0 and x=π is (A) 2+2π (B) −2π (C) 2−2π (D) 2π
›Reveal solutionSolution
The area of the region bounded by y=1+cosx, y=sinx and the X-axis on [0,π] is 2π.
Concept and Intuition
Three curves fence off one closed region above the X-axis. Its floor is y=0; its roof is whichever curve is lower at each x (the lower envelope), because that is what actually caps the region touching the axis. So the area is the integral of min(1+cosx, sinx).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find the crossing: 1+cosx=sinx⇒sinx−cosx=1⇒2sin(x−4π)=1, giving x=2π and x=π.
- On [0,2π]: at x=0, sinx=0<1+cosx=2, so sinx is the lower (roof) curve.
- On [2π,π]: at x=43π, 1+cosx≈0.29<sinx≈0.71, so 1+cosx is the roof.
- ∫0π/2sinxdx=[−cosx]0π/2=1.
- ∫π/2π(1+cosx)dx=[x+sinx]π/2π=π−(2π+1)=2π−1. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.The area (in sq. units) of the region bounded by the lines x=0, x=2π and f(x)=sinx, g(x)=cosx is (A) 2(2−1) (B) 2(3−1) (C) 2(2+1) (D) 32+1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The two curves sinx and cosx cross at x=π/4 inside [0,π/2], so the enclosed area is the sum of two pieces, each evaluating to 2−1, giving total 2(2−1).
Concept and Intuition
Since sinx and cosx swap which one is larger at x=π/4, the area between them over [0,π/2] must be split at that crossing point and the absolute difference integrated on each side.
Step-by-Step Solution
- On [0,π/4]: cosx≥sinx, so area contribution is ∫0π/4(cosx−sinx)dx=[sinx+cosx]0π/4=(22+22)−(0+1)=2−1. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.The area of the region under the curve y=∣sinx−cosx∣, 0≤x≤2π and above x-axis, is (in square units) (A) 22 (B) 22−1 (C) 2(2−1) (D) 2(2+1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Split the region at x=π/4 where sinx=cosx, integrate each branch of the absolute value separately, and add.
Concept and Intuition
∣sinx−cosx∣ is cosx−sinx for x<π/4 (where cosine dominates) and sinx−cosx for x>π/4 (where sine dominates) — the area under an absolute-value curve must be computed piecewise across the sign change.
Step-by-Step Solution
- sinx=cosx at x=π/4 within [0,π/2]; for x<π/4, cosx>sinx, so ∣sinx−cosx∣=cosx−sinx; for x>π/4, it's sinx−cosx.
- ∫0π/4(cosx−sinx)dx=[sinx+cosx]0π/4=(22+22)−(0+1)=2−1. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.The area (in sq. units) of the region bounded by the curves y=4∣cosx∣ and y=−∣cosx∣ from x=−π/2 to π/2 is (A) 6 (B) 8 (C) 12 (D) 10
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since cosx≥0 throughout [−π/2,π/2], both curves are simple cosine multiples, and the enclosed area is 5×∫cosxdx=10.
Concept and Intuition
The area between y=f(x) (top curve) and y=g(x) (bottom curve) over an interval is ∫[f(x)−g(x)]dx. Here the vertical gap between the two curves is constant multiple of ∣cosx∣, so no case-splitting on sign is even needed within this interval.
Step-by-Step Solution
- On x∈[−π/2,π/2], cosx≥0⇒∣cosx∣=cosx.
- Top curve: y=4cosx; bottom curve: y=−cosx.
- Vertical gap: 4cosx−(−cosx)=5cosx≥0 throughout, so this is directly the integrand. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.The Area (in sq. units) of the region bounded by x=0,x=2π, X-axis, y=cosx and y=tanx is (A) 25−1+21log(25−1) (B) 23−5+log(25−1) (C) 25−1−log(25−1) (D) 23−5+21log(25+1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since tanx→∞ at π/2, the finite region is bounded above by the lower of cosx and tanx; splitting the integral at their intersection point gives 23−5+21log25+1.
Concept and Intuition
cosx and tanx cross exactly once in (0,π/2). Since tanx diverges as x→π/2−, a region bounded by the upper envelope of the two curves would have infinite area; the sensible, finite area bounded by the x-axis and both curves on [0,π/2] is the area under whichever curve is lower at each x — i.e. under tanx before the crossing and under cosx after it.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find the crossing point: cosx=tanx=cosxsinx⇒cos2x=sinx⇒1−sin2x=sinx⇒sin2x+sinx−1=0.
sinx0=2−1+5=s(taking the root in [0,1]).
Note also cos2x0=sinx0=s (directly from the defining equation), so cosx0=s.
2. Near x=0: cos0=1>tan0=0, so cosx is the upper curve, tanx the lower, for x∈(0,x0).
Near x=π/2: tanx→∞>cosx→0, so tanx is upper, cosx lower, for x∈(x0,π/2).
3. The finite bounded area is therefore
A=∫0x0tanxdx+∫x0π/2cosxdx.
- First piece: ∫0x0tanxdx=[−log(cosx)]0x0=−log(cosx0)=−logs=−21logs.
- Second piece: ∫x0π/2cosxdx=[sinx]x0π/2=1−sinx0=1−s. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.The area bounded by y−1=−∣x∣ and y+1=∣x∣ is (A) 21 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
The two absolute-value "V" graphs cross at (±1,0) and enclose a rhombus-shaped region (a square rotated 45°) of area 2.
Concept and Intuition
y−1=−∣x∣⇒y=1−∣x∣ is an upside-down V peaking at (0,1) with slopes ∓1. y+1=∣x∣⇒y=∣x∣−1 is a right-side-up V bottoming at (0,−1) with slopes ±1. Since both have unit slopes, the enclosed figure is actually a square with diagonals along the axes (vertices at (0,1),(1,0),(0,−1),(−1,0)), i.e. a rhombus/square of diagonal length 2 each way.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find intersections: 1−∣x∣=∣x∣−1⇒2=2∣x∣⇒∣x∣=1⇒x=±1, giving points (1,0) and (−1,0).
- On (−1,1), the top curve is y=1−∣x∣ (value 1 at x=0) and the bottom curve is y=∣x∣−1 (value −1 at x=0).
- Area =∫−11[(1−∣x∣)−(∣x∣−1)]dx=∫−11(2−2∣x∣)dx. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-AN1 markMCQQ.The area of the region enclosed between the curve y=loge(x+e) and the coordinate axes is (A) 4 (B) 3 (C) 2 (D) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The region bounded by y=log(x+e) and the two coordinate axes is a simple region between x=1−e (where the curve meets the x-axis) and x=0 (where it meets the y-axis); the area works out to exactly 1.
Concept and Intuition
To find the area enclosed between a curve and the coordinate axes, first locate where the curve crosses each axis — those crossing points bound the finite region. Here y=log(x+e) is a shifted, increasing logarithm; it crosses the y-axis at x=0 (giving y=loge=1) and the x-axis where log(x+e)=0, i.e. x+e=1, so x=1−e. Since the curve is positive throughout (1−e,0), the enclosed area is simply the definite integral of y over that interval.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find the y-axis intercept: at x=0, y=log(0+e)=loge=1.
- Find the x-axis intercept: set log(x+e)=0⇒x+e=1⇒x=1−e (note 1−e≈−1.718).
- For x∈(1−e,0), the curve is increasing from 0 up to 1, staying non-negative, so the enclosed area is Area=∫1−e0log(x+e)dx. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.The area of the region (in sq.units) bounded by the curves x2+y2=16 and y2=6x is (A) 4π+43 (B) 32(4π+3) (C) 34(4π+3) (D) 34π+3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The region common to the circle x2+y2=16 and parabola y2=6x is bounded by the parabola near the origin and the circle further out; integrating each piece and doubling for symmetry gives 34(4π+3).
Concept and Intuition
The parabola y2=6x opens rightward from the origin, and the circle has radius 4. Near the vertex, the parabola is the "narrower" curve (smaller ∣y∣ for given x), so it bounds the common region; farther out, the circle becomes narrower and takes over as the boundary. The crossover is exactly at their intersection point.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Intersection: substitute y2=6x into x2+y2=16: x2+6x−16=0⇒x=2 or x=−8 (rejected, since y2=6x≥0 needs x≥0). At x=2: y2=12⇒y=±23.
- For x∈[0,2]: parabola gives smaller ∣y∣ than the circle (check at x=1: parabola ∣y∣=6≈2.45, circle ∣y∣=15≈3.87) — so the parabola bounds the region here.
- For x∈[2,4]: circle gives smaller ∣y∣ (check at x=3: parabola ∣y∣=18≈4.24, circle ∣y∣=7≈2.65) — circle bounds here.
- Area (using symmetry about the x-axis, factor 2):
A=2[∫026xdx+∫2416−x2dx].
- ∫026xdx=6⋅32x3/202=6⋅32⋅22=383.
- Using ∫16−x2dx=2x16−x2+8sin−14x: …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-19-AN1 markMCQQ.The area (in sq. units) of the smaller region lying above the X-axis and bounded between the circle x2+y2=2ax and the parabola y2=ax is (A) 2a2(4π−32) (B) a2(4π−32) (C) a2(4π+32) (D) a2(4π2−31)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The circle and parabola meet at x=0 and x=a; integrating the gap between the (higher) circle and the (lower) parabola over [0,a] gives the smaller enclosed area a2(4π−32).
Concept and Intuition
The circle x2+y2=2ax, i.e. (x−a)2+y2=a2, is centered at (a,0) with radius a, so it passes through the origin and through (2a,0). The parabola y2=ax opens rightward from the origin. Near x=0 the circle bulges upward faster than the parabola (its upper-half slope near the origin is steeper), and they cross again at x=a — the "smaller" lens-shaped region above the x-axis is exactly the strip between the two curves over x∈[0,a].
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find intersections: substitute y2=ax into x2+y2=2ax: x2+ax=2ax⇒x2−ax=0⇒x(x−a)=0⇒x=0 or x=a.
- At x=a: y2=a⋅a=a2⇒y=±a; take y=a for the region above the x-axis. So the curves cross at (0,0) and (a,a).
- For 0<x<a, compare the upper branches: circle gives y=2ax−x2, parabola gives y=ax. Near x=0+, 2ax−x2≈2ax>ax, so the circle lies above the parabola throughout (0,a) — this strip is the smaller enclosed region.
- Area =∫0a[2ax−x2−ax]dx.
- For ∫0aaxdx=a⋅32x3/20a=a⋅32a3/2=32a2. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.The area of the region bounded by the curve y=x2+x, the lines y=x, x=1 and y=2 is (A) 512 (B) 27 (C) 54 (D) 31
›Reveal solutionSolution
The four boundary curves pin down a single closed loop from x=0 to x=1 between the parabola and the line y=x; its area is 31.
Concept and Intuition
When several curves are said to "bound a region," first locate every pairwise intersection — the closed loop's vertices are exactly these intersection points, and its area is found by integrating (upper curve minus lower curve) over the right interval.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Intersection of y=x2+x and y=x: x2+x=x⇒x2=0⇒x=0. They only touch at (0,0), and since x2+x−x=x2≥0, the parabola is above the line for all other x.
- Intersection of y=x and x=1: point (1,1).
- Intersection of y=x2+x and x=1: point (1,2).
- Intersection of y=x2+x and y=2: x2+x−2=0⇒(x−1)(x+2)=0⇒x=1 (the relevant root, giving (1,2) again). …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.The area (in sq. units) bounded by the curves x=y2 and x=3−2y2 is (A) 8 (B) 38 (C) 4 (D) 6
›Reveal solutionSolution
Integrate horizontally (with respect to y) since both curves are given as x= function of y. Answer: 4 square units.
Concept and Intuition
Both curves open sideways (they're expressed as x in terms of y), so it's natural to integrate along y, treating the region as bounded on the right by x=3−2y2 and on the left by x=y2, between their points of intersection.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find intersection points: set y2=3−2y2⇒3y2=3⇒y2=1⇒y=±1.
- For −1≤y≤1, check which curve is to the right: at y=0, x=y2=0 vs x=3−2y2=3, so 3−2y2≥y2 throughout this range.
- Area =∫−11[(3−2y2)−y2]dy=∫−11(3−3y2)dy. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.The area (in sq. units) bounded by the curves y=x8, y=2x and x=4 is (A) 12−8log2 (B) 12+8log2 (C) 12−8log4 (D) 12+8log4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The region enclosed by y=8/x, y=2x and x=4 runs from their intersection at x=2 to x=4, with y=2x as the upper boundary; the area works out to 12−8log2.
Concept and Intuition
Finding where the two curves meet tells us where the 'wedge'-shaped bounded region starts; the vertical line x=4 closes it off on the right. Between the intersection and the line, we need to know which curve is higher to set up ∫(upper−lower)dx correctly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Find the intersection of y=8/x and y=2x: 8/x=2x⇒x2=4⇒x=2 (taking the positive root, matching the given curves), giving y=4.
- Determine which curve is on top between x=2 and x=4: at x=3, y=2x=6 while y=8/x≈2.67. So 2x>8/x here — the line is above the hyperbola on this interval.
- Set up the area integral from the intersection point to the line x=4: Area=∫24(2x−x8)dx.
- Antiderivative: ∫(2x−x8)dx=x2−8logx. …
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