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Q.The area bounded by the curve y=x∣x∣y = x|x|, xx-axis and the ordinates x=−1x = -1 and x=1x = 1 is given by (A) 00 (B) 13\frac{1}{3} (C) 23\frac{2}{3} (D) 33

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The curve y=x∣x∣y = x|x| is an odd function, so the signed area cancels to zero, but the bounded area (absolute area) is the sum of two equal positive lobes, giving 23\frac{2}{3}.

The key here is to understand what y=x∣x∣y = x|x| actually looks like. The absolute value on xx splits the definition into two cases:

  • When x≥0x \ge 0, ∣x∣=x|x| = x, so y=x⋅x=x2y = x \cdot x = x^2.
  • When x<0x < 0, ∣x∣=−x|x| = -x, so y=x⋅(−x)=−x2y = x \cdot (-x) = -x^2.

So the curve is a parabola opening upward on the right side, and a parabola opening downward on the left side. It is an odd function: f(−x)=−f(x)f(-x) = -f(x). This symmetry is the heart of the problem.

The question asks for the area bounded by the curve, the xx-axis, and the vertical lines x=−1x = -1 and x=1x = 1. "Area bounded" means geometric area — always positive — not signed area (the integral). This is a classic trap.

Let’s work through it.

  1. Set up the absolute area integral. The geometric area between a curve y=f(x)y = f(x) and the xx-axis from x=ax = a to x=bx = b is ∫ab∣f(x)∣ dx\int_a^b |f(x)| \, dx. Here:

Area=∫−11∣x∣x∣∣ dx.\text{Area} = \int_{-1}^{1} |x|x|| \, dx.

  1. Simplify ∣x∣x∣∣|x|x||. Since ∣x∣x∣∣=∣x∣⋅∣x∣=∣x∣2=x2|x|x|| = |x| \cdot |x| = |x|^2 = x^2 (because squaring removes the sign), we have:

∣x∣x∣∣=x2for all real x.|x|x|| = x^2 \quad \text{for all real } x.

That’s a neat simplification: the absolute value of the function is just x2x^2, a simple upward parabola.

  1. Compute the integral.

Area=∫−11x2 dx.\text{Area} = \int_{-1}^{1} x^2 \, dx.

The antiderivative of x2x^2 is x33\frac{x^3}{3}. So: …

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