Area Between Curves: Find the Region Between y=sqrt(x) & y=1/2x

In summary, to find the area between the two curves y=\sqrt{x} and y=\frac{1}{2}x, with the limit of integration x=9, the solution is to integrate \frac{1}{2}x-\sqrt{x}dx with limits of integration [4, 9]. This results in \frac{43}{12}, which is different from the answer given in the book. It appears that there are two regions between the curves, with the other one being [0,4]. This should also be taken into account when finding the total area between the curves.
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Homework Statement



Find the area of the region between the two curves.

[tex]y=\sqrt{x}[/tex]

[tex]y=\frac{1}{2}x[/tex]

[tex]x=9[/tex]

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



The domain of the region is [4,9]:

[tex]\int\frac{1}{2}x-\sqrt{x}dx[/tex] with limits of integration [tex][4, 9][/tex]

[tex]=\frac{1}{2}\intxdx-\int x^\frac{1}{2}dx[/tex]

[tex]=\frac{1}{2}\frac{x^2}{2}-\frac{2}{3}x^\frac{3}{2}[/tex]

[tex]=\frac{1}{4}(9^2-4^2)-\frac{2}{3}(9^\frac{3}{2}-4^\frac{3}{2})[/tex]

[tex]=\frac{1}{4}(65)-\frac{2}{3}(27-8)[/tex]

[tex]=\frac{1}{4}(65)-\frac{2}{3}(19)[/tex]

[tex]=\frac{65}{4}-\frac{38}{3}[/tex]

[tex]=\frac{195-152}{12}[/tex]

[tex]=\frac{43}{12}[/tex]

The answer in the book is [tex]\frac{59}{12}[/tex].
 
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  • #2
It looks to me like there are two parts to the region lying between the two curves. What about the [0,4] part? Shouldn't you add the areas of both of them?
 

FAQ: Area Between Curves: Find the Region Between y=sqrt(x) & y=1/2x

What is the area between two curves?

The area between two curves is the region enclosed by the two curves on a graph. It can be calculated by finding the definite integral of the function that represents the top curve minus the definite integral of the function that represents the bottom curve.

How do you find the area between two curves on a graph?

To find the area between two curves on a graph, you need to first identify the curves and determine which one is the top curve and which one is the bottom curve. Then, you can use the definite integral to calculate the area by taking the integral of the top curve minus the integral of the bottom curve within the bounds of the region.

What is the difference between finding the area between curves and finding the area under a curve?

The area between curves is the region enclosed by two curves on a graph, while the area under a curve is the region between a curve and the x-axis on a graph. Finding the area between curves requires finding the definite integral of the difference between the two curves, while finding the area under a curve requires finding the definite integral of the curve itself.

Can there be negative area between two curves?

No, there cannot be negative area between two curves. The area between two curves represents the region enclosed by the two curves on a graph, and by definition, area cannot be negative. If the result of the calculation for the area between two curves is negative, it means that the top curve is actually below the bottom curve within the given bounds.

What is the significance of finding the area between two curves in real-world applications?

Finding the area between two curves has many real-world applications, such as calculating the area of a shaded region on a map or determining the amount of space between two objects. It can also be used to find the volume of a solid shape by using the method of cross-sections.

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