6 Applications of the Definite Integral

6.1 Solids of Revolution

General cross-sectional areas to find volumes. The volume of a solid
can be thought of as an infinite sum of infinitesmally thin cross-sectional
areas times their thickness. Thus
Z b
A= F (x)dx
a

where F (x) is a function giving the area of an arbitrary cross section. Disk
and washer methods, a special case of cross sectional area, are given by
treating the cross section as a circle or annulus, giving the formula
Z b
A= πR(x)2 dx
a

for a disk or Z b
A= π(R(x)2 − r(x)2 )dx
a
for a “washer,” where x is the axis of rotation, R(x) is the outer radius of
the annulus and r(x) is the inner radius. Around arbitrary axes (x, y, and
other lines)

6.2 Volume by Cylindrical Shells

The shell method gives the volume of a surface of revolution by taking
the sum of the volumes an infinite number of infinitesmally thin cylindrical
“shells” parallel to the axis of rotation. The formula
Z b
V = 2π(x − L)f (x)dx
a

gives the volume, where x is the axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
In this case, the y axis is the axis of rotation. f (x) is a function representing
the height of the individual cylinder.

6.3 Curve Length

Z bq
L= f 0 (t)2 + g 0 (t)2 dt
a

1
is the length of an arbitrary planar curve defined parametrically. As
a special case, Z bq
L= 1 + f 0 (x)2 dt
a

gives the length of the curve on [a, b].

6.5 Areas of Surfaces of Revolution

The surface area of revolution can be thought of as the surface generated
by revolving a path about some axis. Here,
v
Z b u !2 !2 Z b
u dx dy
S= 2πx
t
+ dx = 2πρds
a dt dt a

gives the area for a parametrically defined path of revolution, where x is the
axis of rotation, ρ is the radius from the axis of revolution to the arc length
differential ds.

6.6 Work
The general formula for work is given by

W = Fd

, where F is a constant force and d is the path along which work is done.
For a variable force, we can take the integral of infinitesmally small periods
of the work, along which the force may vary. This gives
Z b
W = F (x)dx
a

where F (x) is a function modelling the force.

8 Techniques of Integration
8.1 Basic formulæ
There are several techniques for substitution and simplification before
more advanced techniques are needed.

2
 2x − 9 du
Simplifying substitution √ dx = √
x2 − 9x + 1 u
√ q
Completing the square 8x − x2 = 16 − (x − 4)2
Trigononmetric identity (sec x + tan x)2 = sec2 x + 2 sec x tan x + tan2 x
= sec2 x + 2 sec x tan x
+(sec2 x − 1)
= 2 sec2 x + 2 sec x tan x − 1
√ √ √
Eliminating radicals 1 + cos 4x = 2 cos2 2x = 2 |cos 2x|
3x2 − 7x 6
Reducing fractions =x−3+
3x + 2 3x + 2
3x + 2 3x 2
Separating fractions √ =√ +√
1 − x2 1−x 2 1 − x2
sec x + tan x
Identity sec x = sec x ·
sec x + tan x
sec2 x + sec x tan x
=
sec x + tan x

8.2 Integration by Parts

The integration by parts formula
Z Z
u dv = uv − v du

allows us to find integrals that have multiple factors in the integrand. Gen-
erally, dv should be chosen to be as much of the original integrand, including
dx, as can be readily integrated.
Repeated integration by parts, often called tabular integration can be
organized more easily in a table, for instance in
Z
x2 ex dx

if we let u = x2 and dv = ex dx, we can write

3
 sign of the term u and derivatives v and integrals
+ x2 ex
− 2x ex
+ 2 ex
0 ex

This gives Z
x2 ex dx = x2 ex − 2xex + 2ex + C

8.3 Partial Fraction Decomposition