Greens Theorem

Greens Theorem
Consider a domain D whose boundary C is a
simple closed curve that is, a closed curve
that does not intersect itself. The boundary
curve C is sometime denoted by .
The simple closed curve is positively
oriented if the domain lies to the left as we
move along the curve.

C=

D
The positive orientation for this
curve is counterclockwise.

Greens Theorem Let C be a positively oriented, piecewise smooth

simple closed curve in the plane and let D be the region bounded by C.
If (, ) and (, ) have continuous partial derivatives on an open
region containing D then
Q P
Pdx

Qdy

x y dA
C

Recall that C Pdx Qdy is just another way of writing

where , = , , (, )

F dr

Greens Theorem Example 1

Find

2 3
xy
dx

x
y dy where C is a triangle with vertices (0,0),
C

(1,0) and (1,2) oriented in the positive direction.

=

(1,1)

Note that the requirements for Greens

Theorem are satisfied, with
= and
= 23

=0

As a Type I region, the limits for D are:

0 , 0 1

The curve and the vector

field = ,

xydx x 2 y 3dy

Qx 2 xy 3

Py x

(Q x Py )dA

(2 xy x )dA
3

x5

y
1
3
(2 xy x )dydx 2 x
xy dy x 2 dx
4
2
4
0

0 0
0
0
1 x

Greens Theorem Example 2

Find
( y e x )dx (2 x cos y 3 )dy where C is the boundary curve of
C
the region bounded by = 2 and by = 2 oriented in the clockwise
direction.
x
3
P ye
Q 2 x cos y
= 2

= 2

Qx 2

Py 1

All requirements of Greens Theorem are satisfied

As a Type I region the limits for D are:
2 , 0 1

The curve and the vector

field = ,

(y e

clockwise

)dx (2 x cos y 3 )dy (Qx Py )dA D (2 1)dA

D

1
0 x 2
0
0
3
If we do not use Greens Theorem then we would need to write up the line integral
along two curves and we would have to deal with very difficult integrals.

(1)dydx y x 2 dx
1

x x 2 dx

Greens Theorem Example 3

Find y 2 dx 3xydy where C is the boundary of the semi-annular region D
C
between the upper half-plane circles 2 + 2 = 4 and 2 + 2 = 9 with
positive orientation.
C
D

= 2

Q = 3

= 2

= 3

The curve and the vector field = ,

y 2dx 3xydy

(Q

Py )dA

(3 y 2 y )dA y dA
D

r3
19
38
r sin drd sin d sin d
3 0
3
3 2
0 2
0
2

polar coordinates

Greens Theorem
Can we further extend Greens Theorem to a region D
that is not simply connected (has a hole)?
Yes. Let C be the boundary of the region D (C = )
Let C1 and C2 be oriented in the positive direction
(when the curves are traversed, the region is on the left).

D
D

2
1

Divide D into two simple regions D1 and D2 by two line

segments and apply Greens Theorem to D1 and D2:

Q
D

Py dA

D1

D1

Py dA

D2

Pdx Qdy

D 2

Py dA

D2

Pdx Qdy

Since the line integrals along the line segments are in opposite direction they
cancel and we obtain Greens Theorem for the region D:

Q
D

Py dA Pdx Qdy Pdx Qdy

C1

C2

Pdx Qdy

Greens Theorem Example 5

Find C y 2 dx 3xydy where C is the boundary of the annular region D
between the circles 2 + 2 = 4 and 2 + 2 = 9 with positive orientation.
C

= 2

Q = 3

= 2

= 3

y dx 3xydy (Q
2

Py )dA

The curve and the vector field

= ,
2 3

(3 y 2 y )dA y dA
D

2
r3
19
2
2 r sin drd 0 sin 3 d 3 0 sin d 0
2

polar coordinates

Greens Theorem
We can use Greens Theorem in the other direction, that is, we can evaluate the
line integral instead of the double integral.

Example 6 - Finding areas using Greens Theorem

Find the area enclosed by the ellipse
Recall: Area of D 1dA

x2 y 2

1.
9
4

We need to find functions (, ) and (, ) such that

= 1.

One such pair of functions (out of many) is (, ) = 2 and , = 2

Parameterize the ellipse: = 3 cos and = 2 sin with 0 2
Then:

Area 1dA
D

Pdx Qdy

1
ydx xdy

C
2

2
1 2
2sin t ( 3sin t )dt 3cos t (2cos t )dt 30 sin 2 t cos2 t dt 6
2 0
Note that the answer makes perfect sense; the ellipse is basically an elongated circle so the
area, instead of 2 , is: (longer axis 3) (shorter axis 2) .