Q.Find the area bounded by the curve y=sinx between x=0 and x=2π.
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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: …
The key idea is that area is the integral of the absolute value of the function, because the curve goes below the x‑axis.
Step 1: Identify where sinx changes sign.
sinx≥0 on [0,π] and sinx≤0 on [π,2π].
Step 2: Write area as sum of two integrals with correct sign:
Area=∫0πsinxdx+∫π2π(−sinx)dx
Step 3: Evaluate each. …
The area bounded by y=sinx from x=0 to x=2π is found by splitting the interval at π, where the curve crosses the x-axis, and taking the absolute value of each integral. The total area is 4 square units.
The key insight here is that "area bounded by the curve" means geometric area — the physical region enclosed between the curve and the x-axis. When a curve dips below the x-axis, the definite integral gives a negative value, but area is always positive. So we cannot simply integrate sinx from 0 to 2π and call it done.
Let’s look at the graph of y=sinx between 0 and 2π. It starts at 0, rises to 1 at x=π/2, comes back to 0 at x=π, then goes negative to −1 at x=3π/2, and returns to 0 at x=2π. The curve crosses the x-axis at x=0,π,2π. The region above the axis (from 0 to π) and the region below the axis (from π to 2π) are mirror images in shape. So the total geometric area is twice the area of one lobe.
- Set up the integrals with absolute value. The area A is given by
A=∫02π∣sinx∣dx.
Since sinx≥0 on [0,π] and sinx≤0 on [π,2π], we split:
A=∫0πsinxdx+∫π2π(−sinx)dx.
- Evaluate the first integral.
∫0πsinxdx=[−cosx]0π=(−cosπ)−(−cos0)=(−(−1))−(−1)=1+1=2.
- Evaluate the second integral.
∫π2π(−sinx)dx=−[−cosx]π2π=−[(−cos2π)−(−cosπ)]=−[(−1)−(−(−1))].
Let’s do it carefully: −cosx evaluated from π to 2π gives (−cos2π)−(−cosπ)=(−1)−(1)=−2. Then the negative sign outside makes it −(−2)=2. …
Method: Area of a curve that crosses the x-axis (take the modulus)
Use this whenever "area bounded by the curve" is asked over an interval where the curve goes both above and below the x-axis (e.g. a full period of sinx). Geometric area is always positive.
Steps
Step 1: Find where the curve crosses the axis.
Solve f(x)=0 inside [a,b]. These roots divide the interval into pieces that are entirely above or entirely below the axis.
Step 2: Determine the sign on each piece.
On a piece where f≥0 integrate f; where f≤0 integrate −f (or take the magnitude of the result).
Step 3: Sum the magnitudes. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Reporting the plain signed integral.
Why it's wrong: ∫02πsinxdx=0 because the positive lobe [0,π] and the negative lobe [π,2π] cancel — but the region genuinely encloses area. Correct approach: integrate ∣sinx∣, i.e. split at x=π and add magnitudes, giving 2+2=4.
Mistake 2: Not splitting where the curve crosses the axis. …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-AN1 markMCQQ.P(5,2) is a point on the curve y=f(x) and 27 is the slope of the tangent to the curve at P. The area of the triangle (in sq. units) formed by the tangent and the normal to the curve at P with x-axis is (A) 35 (B) 235 (C) 753 (D) 1453
›Reveal solutionSolution
Area =753 sq. units — option (C).
Tangent at P(5,2) with slope 27: y−2=27(x−5). Its x-intercept (y=0):
x=5−74=731.
Normal at P has slope −72: y−2=−72(x−5). Its x-intercept:
x=5+7=12. …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-04-FN1 markMCQQ.The area of the region bounded by y=x3, x-axis, x=−2 and x=4 is (A) 566 (B) 64 (C) 481 (D) 68
›Reveal solutionSolution
The area is the sum of the absolute values of the definite integrals from x=−2 to x=0 and from x=0 to x=4, because the curve dips below the x-axis on the left. The result is 68 square units.
The key idea here is that area bounded by a curve and the x-axis is always positive — it’s the geometric area, not the signed area. When a function like y=x3 takes negative values over part of the interval, the definite integral gives a negative contribution, which we must flip to positive by taking its absolute value.
The curve y=x3 passes through the origin. For x<0, x3 is negative, so the curve lies below the x-axis. For x>0, it lies above. The x-axis itself is the line y=0. The region is bounded vertically by the curve and the x-axis, and horizontally by the vertical lines x=−2 and x=4.
So the total area is the sum of two separate pieces: the area from x=−2 to x=0 (where the curve is below the axis) and the area from x=0 to x=4 (where it is above). We compute each as a definite integral of ∣x3∣, which is equivalent to taking the absolute value of the integral over each subinterval.
- Area from x=−2 to x=0 On [−2,0], x3≤0, so ∣x3∣=−x3.
A1=∫−20(−x3)dx=−∫−20x3dx
Compute the integral:
∫x3dx=4x4
So
A1=−[4x4]−20=−(404−4(−2)4)=−(0−416)=−(−4)=4
- Area from x=0 to x=4 On [0,4], x3≥0, so ∣x3∣=x3.
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-09-FN1 markMCQQ.Area of the region enclosed between the curves y2=4(x+7) and y2=5(2−x) is (A) 3322 (B) 38 (C) 61 (D) 245
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both curves are sideways parabolas; writing x as a function of y and integrating the horizontal gap between them over y∈[−25,25] gives area 245 — option (D).
Setting up
Because each curve has the form y2=(linear in x), solve for x:
y2=4(x+7)⇒x=4y2−7,
y2=5(2−x)⇒x=2−5y2.
The region is symmetric about the x-axis, so integrating in y is natural.
Intersection points
Set the two x-values equal:
4y2−7=2−5y2⇒4y2+5y2=9⇒209y2=9.
Hence y2=20, so y=±25.
Horizontal width
For y between the intersections the right curve is x=2−5y2 (at y=0 it gives x=2 versus x=−7). The gap is
w(y)=(2−5y2)−(4y2−7)=9−209y2.
Integrating …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.If the area of the region enclosed by the curve ay=x2 and the line x+y=2a is ka2, then k= (A) 92 (B) 29 (C) 23 (D) 32
›Reveal solutionSolution
The area between the parabola ay=x2 and the line x+y=2a is found by integrating the difference of the functions over their intersection points, yielding k=29.
Concept & Intuition
We are finding the area enclosed between a parabola and a line. The key is to rewrite both curves as functions of x (or y), find where they intersect (these become the limits of integration), and then integrate the vertical (or horizontal) distance between them. Because the parabola opens upward and the line slopes downward, the region is lens-shaped; the area will scale with a2, and we just need the constant factor k.
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Rewrite the equations in terms of y as functions of x.
The parabola: ay=x2⇒y=ax2.
The line: x+y=2a⇒y=2a−x.
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Find the intersection points by setting the two expressions for y equal:
ax2=2a−x
Multiply through by a:
x2=2a2−ax⇒x2+ax−2a2=0.
Solve the quadratic:
x=2−a±a2+8a2=2−a±3a.
So x=a or x=−2a.
The corresponding y-values: for x=a, y=2a−a=a; for x=−2a, y=2a−(−2a)=4a.
Intersection points: (−2a,4a) and (a,a).
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Determine which curve is on top between x=−2a and x=a.
Test a point, say x=0:
Parabola: y=0. Line: y=2a.
Since 2a>0 (assuming a>0 for a positive area), the line lies above the parabola in this interval.
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Set up the area integral (vertical slices):
Area=∫x=−2ax=a[(2a−x)−ax2]dx.
- Evaluate the integral:
∫−2aa(2a−x−ax2)dx=[2ax−2x2−3ax3]−2aa.
Compute at x=a:
2a(a)−2a2−3aa3=2a2−2a2−3a2=a2(2−21−31)=a2(612−3−2)=67a2.
Compute at x=−2a:
-
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.Area of the region bounded by the curve y=2−x−3x2, the X-axis, the Y-axis and the line x=−2 is (A) 2 (B) 2744 (C) 29 (D) 5
›Reveal solutionSolution
The parabola cuts the X-axis at x=−1 inside [−2,0]; adding the two signed pieces gives 3.5+1.5=5.
The region runs from the Y-axis (x=0) to x=−2. Find where y=2−x−3x2 meets the X-axis:
3x2+x−2=0⟹x=6−1±5⟹x=−1, 32.
Only x=−1 lies in [−2,0]. On (−1,0) the curve is above the axis (at x=0, y=2>0); on (−2,−1) it is below (at x=−1.5, y=−3.25<0).
Antiderivative F(x)=2x−2x2−x3: …
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.The area (in square units) of the region bounded by the curve y=∣sin2x∣ and the X-axis in [0,2π] is (A) 0 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The area under y=∣sin2x∣ from 0 to 2π is found by noting the function’s period is π/2 and each half-wave has area 1; there are 4 such half-waves, so total area is 4. The correct option is (C).
The key insight is that the absolute value makes every lobe of the sine wave positive, so we are summing the areas of identical “humps.” Since sin2x completes two full oscillations in [0,2π], taking absolute value doubles the number of humps to four, each of equal area.
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Understand the basic shape
The function sin2x has period π (because period of sin(kx) is 2π/k, so 2π/2=π). Over [0,2π], it completes two full cycles. Without absolute value, the net signed area would be zero because positive and negative lobes cancel. But ∣sin2x∣ flips the negative parts upward, so we are really measuring the total area of all lobes.
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Find the period of ∣sin2x∣
The absolute value halves the period: sin2x is negative on half of each cycle, and flipping it makes the pattern repeat every half-cycle. Specifically, ∣sin2x∣ has period π/2 (since sin2x changes sign at multiples of π/2). Over [0,2π], there are 2π÷(π/2)=4 identical periods.
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Compute area of one period
Take one period, say x∈[0,π/2]. Here sin2x≥0, so ∣sin2x∣=sin2x. The area under one hump is
∫0π/2sin2xdx=[−2cos2x]0π/2=−21(cosπ−cos0)=−21(−1−1)=1. …
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- TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-19-AN1 markMCQQ.In a triangle ABC, AD and BE are medians. If AD = 4, ∠DAB=6π and ∠ABE=3π then the area of △ABC is (A) 3314 (B) 3328 (C) 3311 (D) 3332
›Reveal solutionSolution
We use the property that medians intersect at the centroid, dividing each median in a 2:1 ratio. By identifying the angles in the triangle formed by two vertices and the centroid, we find it's a right-angled triangle. We then calculate its area and multiply by 3 to get the area of △ABC. The area of △ABC is 3332.
The problem asks for the area of △ABC, given the length of a median AD and two angles related to the medians AD and BE. The key to solving this problem lies in understanding the properties of medians, specifically how they intersect at the centroid and divide the triangle into smaller triangles of equal area.
Here's the concept:
- Centroid Property: The medians of a triangle intersect at a point called the centroid (let's call it G). The centroid divides each median in the ratio 2:1, with the longer segment being from the vertex to the centroid. So, for median AD, AG:GD=2:1. Similarly for median BE, BG:GE=2:1.
- Area Property of Centroid: The centroid divides the triangle into six smaller triangles of equal area. Also, the three triangles formed by connecting the centroid to the vertices (△AGB, △BGC, △CGA) have equal areas. Therefore, Area(△ABC) = 3 × Area(△AGB).
- Trigonometry: We will use the sine rule and basic trigonometric ratios in the triangle formed by the centroid and two vertices (△AGB) to find its dimensions and area.
Let's apply these concepts step-by-step.
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Identify the Centroid and its properties:
Let G be the centroid of △ABC. Since AD is a median and AD = 4, the centroid G divides AD in the ratio 2:1.
Therefore, AG=32AD=32×4=38.
Also, GD=31AD=31×4=34.
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Analyze △AGB:
We are given ∠DAB=6π and ∠ABE=3π.
In △AGB:
- ∠GAB=∠DAB=6π
- ∠GBA=∠ABE=3π
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Calculate the third angle in △AGB:
The sum of angles in a triangle is π radians (180∘).
∠AGB=π−(∠GAB+∠GBA)
∠AGB=π−(6π+3π)
∠AGB=π−(6π+62π)
∠AGB=π−63π
∠AGB=π−2π=2π
TipThe fact that ∠AGB=2π means △AGB is a right-angled triangle. This simplifies calculations significantly, as we can use basic trigonometric ratios or the formula 21×base×height for its area.
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Find the length of BG:
In the right-angled △AGB, we know AG=38, ∠GAB=6π, and ∠GBA=3π.
We can use the tangent function:
tan(∠GBA)=adjacent sideopposite side=BGAG
tan(3π)=BG8/3
3=3BG8
BG=338
Alternatively, using the sine rule:
In any triangle with sides a,b,c and opposite angles A,B,C:
sinAa=sinBb=sinCc
Applying the sine rule to △AGB: …
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