Skip to content

Areas and accumulation

Areas and accumulation

An area above the x\displaystyle x-axis

When the graph of f\displaystyle f is above the x\displaystyle x-axis for a≤x≤b\displaystyle a\le x\le b, the area between the graph and the axis is the definite integral ∫abf(x) dx\displaystyle \int_a^b f(x)\,dx. The example below calculates the area bounded by the graph of f(x)=2x\displaystyle {f(x)}={2^x}, the x\displaystyle x-axis and the lines x=0\displaystyle {x}={0} and x=2\displaystyle {x}={2}:

f(x)=2x\displaystyle f(x)=2^{x}
S=∫022x dx=[2xln⁡2]02=4−1ln⁡2=3ln⁡2≈4.33S=\int_0^2 2^x\,dx=\left[\frac{2^x}{\ln2}\right]_0^2=\frac{4-1}{\ln2}=\frac{3}{\ln2}\approx4.33
A function that changes sign

Where the graph is below the x\displaystyle x-axis the integral is negative, and the area is the integral of −f(x)\displaystyle -f(x). When the function changes sign in the interval, split the interval at its zero and calculate each part separately. The example below calculates the area bounded by the graph of f(x)=ex−2\displaystyle {f(x)}={e^x-2}, the x\displaystyle x-axis and the lines x=0\displaystyle {x}={0} and x=ln⁡4\displaystyle {x}={\ln4}:

f(x)=ex−2\displaystyle f(x)=e^{x}-2
  • The zero: ex−2=0\displaystyle {e^x-2}={0}, that is ex=2\displaystyle {e^x}={2} and x=ln⁡2\displaystyle {x}={\ln2}.
  • Between 0 and ln⁡2\displaystyle \ln2 the graph is below the axis: ∫0ln⁡2(2−ex)dx=[2x−ex]0ln⁡2=(2ln⁡2−2)−(0−1)=2ln⁡2−1\displaystyle {\int_0^{\ln2}\left(2-e^x\right)dx}={\left[2x-e^x\right]_0^{\ln2}}={(2\ln2-2)-(0-1)}={2\ln2-1}.
  • Between ln⁡2\displaystyle \ln2 and ln⁡4\displaystyle \ln4 the graph is above the axis: ∫ln⁡2ln⁡4(ex−2)dx=[ex−2x]ln⁡2ln⁡4=(4−2ln⁡4)−(2−2ln⁡2)=2−2ln⁡2\displaystyle {\int_{\ln2}^{\ln4}\left(e^x-2\right)dx}={\left[e^x-2x\right]_{\ln2}^{\ln4}}={(4-2\ln4)-(2-2\ln2)}={2-2\ln2}.
  • The whole area: (2ln⁡2−1)+(2−2ln⁡2)=1\displaystyle {(2\ln2-1)+(2-2\ln2)}={1}.
The area between two graphs

The area between two graphs, in an interval where f(x)≥g(x)\displaystyle f(x)\ge g(x):

S=∫ab(f(x)−g(x))dx\displaystyle S=\int_{a}^{b}\left(f(x)-g(x)\right)dx

The example below calculates the area bounded by the graphs of f(x)=ex\displaystyle {f(x)}={e^x} and of g(x)=e−x\displaystyle {g(x)}={e^{-x}} and the line x=1\displaystyle {x}={1}:

f(x)=ex\displaystyle f(x)=e^{x}
g(x)=e−x\displaystyle g(x)=e^{-x}
x=1\displaystyle x=1
  • The meeting point: ex=e−x\displaystyle {e^x}={e^{-x}} gives x=−x\displaystyle {x}={-x}, that is x=0\displaystyle {x}={0}.
  • For 0≤x≤1\displaystyle 0\le x\le1: ex≥e−x\displaystyle e^x\ge e^{-x}.
  • The area:
S=∫01(ex−e−x)dx=[ex+e−x]01=(e+1e)−2≈1.09S=\int_0^1\left(e^x-e^{-x}\right)dx=\left[e^x+e^{-x}\right]_0^1=\left(e+\frac{1}{e}\right)-2\approx1.09
A composite area

When the upper edge of the area passes from one graph to another, split the area where they meet. The example below calculates the area bounded by the graphs of f(x)=ex\displaystyle {f(x)}={e^x} and of g(x)=e2−x\displaystyle {g(x)}={e^{2-x}}, the x\displaystyle x-axis and the lines x=0\displaystyle {x}={0} and x=2\displaystyle {x}={2}:

f(x)=ex\displaystyle f(x)=e^{x}
g(x)=e2−x\displaystyle g(x)=e^{2-x}
  • The meeting point: ex=e2−x\displaystyle {e^x}={e^{2-x}} gives x=2−x\displaystyle {x}={2-x}, that is x=1\displaystyle {x}={1}.
  • Between 0 and 1 the area is under the graph of f\displaystyle f: ∫01ex dx=e−1\displaystyle {\int_0^1e^x\,dx}={e-1}.
  • Between 1 and 2 the area is under the graph of g\displaystyle g: ∫12e2−x dx=[−e2−x]12=−1+e=e−1\displaystyle {\int_1^2e^{2-x}\,dx}={\left[-e^{2-x}\right]_1^2}={-1+e}={e-1}.
  • The whole area: 2(e−1)=2e−2≈3.44\displaystyle {2(e-1)}={2e-2\approx3.44}.
An amount accumulated from a rate

When a function describes a rate – an amount per unit of time – its integral between two times is the amount accumulated between them. The example below calculates how much gold was produced in the world:

  • The time t\displaystyle t is measured in years, and t=0\displaystyle {t}={0} is the end of 2000.
  • The function p(t)=2500e0.006t\displaystyle {p(t)}={2500e^{0.006t}} is a model of the rate of the world’s gold production, in tonnes a year.
  • At the end of 2000 the rate was p(0)=2500\displaystyle {p(0)}={2500} tonnes a year.
  • In 2001 the world produced:
∫012500e0.006t dt=[25000.006e0.006t]01=25000.006(e0.006−1)≈2507.5\int_0^1 2500e^{0.006t}\,dt=\left[\frac{2500}{0.006}e^{0.006t}\right]_0^1=\frac{2500}{0.006}\left(e^{0.006}-1\right)\approx2507.5
  • The rate rose during the year, so the amount is a little more than 2500 tonnes.
  • In the ten years 2001–2010 the world produced ∫0102500e0.006t dt=25000.006(e0.06−1)≈25,765\displaystyle {\int_0^{10}2500e^{0.006t}\,dt}={\frac{2500}{0.006}\left(e^{0.06}-1\right)\approx25{,}765} tonnes.
The accumulation function of 1t\displaystyle \frac{1}{t}

In grade 11 you learnt that the area accumulation function F(x)=∫axf(t) dt\displaystyle {F(x)}={\int_a^x f(t)\,dt} is an antiderivative of f\displaystyle f: F′(x)=f(x)\displaystyle {F'(x)}={f(x)}. The accumulation function of 1t\displaystyle \frac{1}{t} from 1 is the natural logarithm:

F(x)=∫1x1t dt=[ln⁡t]1x=ln⁡x−ln⁡1=ln⁡xF(x)=\int_1^x\frac{1}{t}\,dt=\left[\ln t\right]_1^x=\ln x-\ln1=\ln x

On the graph: the area under 1x\displaystyle \frac{1}{x} between 1 and x\displaystyle x is the height of ln⁡x\displaystyle \ln x at that x\displaystyle x.

f(x)=1x\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{x}
g(x)=ln⁡x\displaystyle g(x)=\ln x
  • ln⁡e=1\displaystyle {\ln e}={1}: the area under 1x\displaystyle \frac{1}{x} between 1 and e\displaystyle e is 1.
  • Where 0<x<1\displaystyle 0<x<1 the upper limit is less than 1, the integral is negative, and ln⁡x<0\displaystyle \ln x<0 too.
  • F′(x)=1x>0\displaystyle {F'(x)}={\frac{1}{x}>0}, so ln⁡x\displaystyle \ln x increases throughout its domain.
Exercise 1

Calculate the area bounded by the graph of f(x)=2x\displaystyle {f(x)}={\frac{2}{x}}, the x\displaystyle x-axis and the lines x=1\displaystyle {x}={1} and x=e2\displaystyle {x}={e^2}.

f(x)=2x\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{2}{x}

    / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

    / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

    Exercise 2

    The function f(x)=ex−e\displaystyle {f(x)}={e^x-e} is given.

    a

    Mark the zero of the function.

    f(x)=ex−e\displaystyle f(x)=e^{x}-e

    b

    Calculate the area bounded by the graph, the x\displaystyle x-axis and the y\displaystyle y-axis.

      / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

      / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

      c

      Calculate the area bounded by the graph, the x\displaystyle x-axis and the line x=2\displaystyle {x}={2}.

        / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

        / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

        d

        Calculate the whole shaded area, between x=0\displaystyle {x}={0} and x=2\displaystyle {x}={2}.

          / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

          / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

          Exercise 3

          The functions f(x)=4x\displaystyle {f(x)}={\frac{4}{x}} and g(x)=5−x\displaystyle {g(x)}={5-x} are given, for x>0\displaystyle x>0.

          a

          Find the x\displaystyle x-coordinates of the points where the two graphs meet.

            b

            Calculate the area enclosed between the two graphs.

            f(x)=4x\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{4}{x}
            g(x)=5−x\displaystyle g(x)=5-x

              / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

              / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

              Exercise 4

              The functions f(x)=e2x\displaystyle {f(x)}={e^{2x}} and g(x)=3ex−2\displaystyle {g(x)}={3e^x-2} are given.

              a

              Find the x\displaystyle x-coordinates of the points where the two graphs meet.
              Substitute t=ex\displaystyle {t}={e^x}.

                b

                Between the meeting points the graph of g\displaystyle g is above the graph of f\displaystyle f.
                Calculate the area enclosed between the two graphs.

                f(x)=e2x\displaystyle f(x)=e^{2x}
                g(x)=3ex−2\displaystyle g(x)=3e^{x}-2

                  / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                  / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                  Exercise 5

                  Water flows into a tank at a rate of r(t)=20e−0.1t\displaystyle {r(t)}={20e^{-0.1t}} litres a minute.
                  t\displaystyle t is the time in minutes since the tap was opened, and the tank is empty when it is opened.

                  a

                  How many litres flow into the tank in the first 10 minutes?
                  Write an exact result, and on another line round it to one decimal place.

                    / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                    / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                    b

                    After t\displaystyle t minutes, 200−200e−0.1t\displaystyle 200-200e^{-0.1t} litres have flowed into the tank.
                    After how many minutes will the tank hold 100 litres?

                      Exercise 6

                      The accumulation function F(x)=∫1x2t dt\displaystyle {F(x)}={\int_1^x\frac{2}{t}\,dt} is given, for x>0\displaystyle x>0.

                      a

                      Calculate F(x)\displaystyle F(x).

                        / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – check and a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                        / – fraction bar · Tab or the arrows – between numerator and denominator, then a note above or below · Enter – a new line · * – times · ^ – power, ↓ – end of the power

                        b

                        F(x)=2ln⁡x\displaystyle {F(x)}={2\ln x}.
                        Find the x\displaystyle x at which F(x)=4\displaystyle {F(x)}={4}.