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NCERT Exemplar · Q14

Q.Area of the region bounded by the curve y=cos⁡xy = \cos x between x=0x = 0 and x=πx = \pi is
(A) 22 sq units
(B) 44 sq units
(C) 33 sq units
(D) 11 sq units

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The area under y=cos⁡xy = \cos x from x=0x = 0 to x=πx = \pi is found by splitting the integral at x=π/2x = \pi/2, where the curve crosses the x-axis, and taking the absolute value of each part. The total area is 22 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=cos⁡xy = \cos x between 00 and π\pi, the curve is positive from 00 to π/2\pi/2 and negative from π/2\pi/2 to π\pi. The total area is the sum of the absolute areas of these two parts.

Let’s work through it step by step.

  1. Identify where the curve crosses the x-axis.

    Solve cos⁡x=0\cos x = 0 in [0,π][0, \pi].

    cos⁡x=0\cos x = 0 at x=π/2x = \pi/2. So the sign changes at this point.

  2. Set up the area as a sum of absolute integrals.

    Area =∫0π/2cos⁡x dx+∫π/2π(−cos⁡x) dx= \int_{0}^{\pi/2} \cos x \, dx + \int_{\pi/2}^{\pi} (-\cos x) \, dx

    The second integral uses −cos⁡x-\cos x because cos⁡x\cos x is negative there, and we want the positive magnitude.

  3. Evaluate the first integral.

    ∫0π/2cos⁡x dx=[sin⁡x]0π/2=sin⁡(π/2)−sin⁡(0)=1−0=1\int_{0}^{\pi/2} \cos x \, dx = [\sin x]_{0}^{\pi/2} = \sin(\pi/2) - \sin(0) = 1 - 0 = 1.

  4. Evaluate the second integral.

    ∫π/2π(−cos⁡x) dx=−[sin⁡x]π/2π=−(sin⁡π−sin⁡(π/2))=−(0−1)=1\int_{\pi/2}^{\pi} (-\cos x) \, dx = -[\sin x]_{\pi/2}^{\pi} = -(\sin \pi - \sin(\pi/2)) = -(0 - 1) = 1.

  5. Add the two parts.

    Total area =1+1=2= 1 + 1 = 2 square units. …

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