(a) Since f(x) is positive on [−1,1], the area bounded by the function and x-axis on the given interval is A1=∫−11(3−x2)dx. A sketch of the function and region is shown below.
(b) Likewise, because g(x) is positive on [−1,1], the area bounded by the function and x-axis on the given interval is A2=∫−112x2dx. A sketch of the function and region is shown below.
(c) From the above two figures, we see that the exact area between the two curves is the area under f (A1) minus the area under g (A2). That is,
A1−A2=∫−11(3−x2)dx−∫−112x2dx.
(d) By the sum rule for definite integrals over the same interval, we know that
∫−11(3−x2)dx−∫−112x2dx=∫−11[(3−x2)−2x2]dx
and thus the latter single integral captures the exact area between the two curves on [−1,1].
(e) In general, if p(x)≥q(x) on [a,b], the exact area, A, between p and q on the interval will be given by
A=∫ab[p(x)−q(x)]dx
because we can find the area as the difference of the area under p (∫abp(x)dx) and the area under q (∫abq(x)dx), and then subtract the two definite integrals as shown in (d).