# Area Between Two Curves – Definition, Process, and Examples

Through integral calculus, we can now calculate the area found between two curves.  When given two functions, it’s now possible for us to calculate the area formed by their curves at a given interval.  Learning how to find the area between two curves is a fundamental process that has numerous applications in mathematics, finance, and other STEM fields.

Finding the area between two curves is a direct application of definite integrals. When given two functions, the area between two curves can be calculated by subtracting the lower curve from the upper curve (or the leftmost curve from the rightmost) then evaluating the definite integral of the function.

In this article, we’ll focus on highlighting the process of finding the areas between curves using our knowledge of integral calculus. We’ve learned about finding the area under a curve in the past, so make sure you are familiar with this process and this will guarantee you to master our current topic much faster.

## What is the area between two curves?

The area between two curves is geometrically the area bounded by their graphs within the given interval. When given two functions, $f(x)$ and $g(x)$, that are continuous through the interval, $[a, b]$, we can use this definition to find the area between them.

For example, when we have $f(x) = \sqrt{x}$ and $g(x) = x^3$, the area found between the two functions from $x =0$ to $x =1$ is represented by the shaded region (in green) shown above.

### Area between two curves definition

Finding the area between two curves is an extension of finding the area under the function’s curve. The image below shows how the value of the area between the two curves is equivalent to the difference between the areas under each curve.

In the past, we’ve learned that the area under the curve can be approximated using definite integrals or the Riemann sum. We can use the formal definition of an area under the curve to mathematically define the area between two curves.

Let’s say we have two continuous functions, $f(x)$ and $g(x)$, over the interval, $[a, b]$. The area between two curves can be defined through the Riemann sum and definite integral expressions shown below where $A$ represents the area between two curves.

 Riemann Sum Definite Integral \begin{aligned}A&= \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{i = 1}^{n} [f(x_i) – g(x_i)]\Delta x_i\\&= \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}\left[\sum_{i = 1}^{n} f(x_i)\Delta x_i – \sum_{i = 1}^{n} g(x_i)\Delta x_i \right ] \end{aligned} \begin{aligned}A &= \int_{a}^{b} f(x)\phantom{x}dx – \int_{a}^{b}g(x) \phantom{x}dx\\ &= \int_{a}^{b} [f(x) – g(x)]\phantom{x}dx\end{aligned}

These two formulas confirm that the areas between two curves are related to areas under the curve. For example, the functions $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ are continuous over the interval, $[a, b]$. When $g(x) \leq f(x)$ for all $x$ within the given interval, we have the area between the curves of $f(x)$ and $g(x)$:

\begin{aligned}A &= \int_{a}^{b} [f(x) – g(x)] \phantom{x}dx\end{aligned}

This means that the area between the curves bounded by the graph of $\boldsymbol{f(x)}$ and $\boldsymbol{g(x)}$ and the vertical lines formed by $\boldsymbol{x = a}$ and $\boldsymbol{x = b}$ is equivalent to the difference between the areas under the curves.

There are instances, however, that it’s difficult to determine which of the two given functions is positioned directly above the other. There are also times when we’re given the boundaries and curve’s expressions with respect to $y$.

When any of this case happens, we can instead observe the positions of the curve with respect to the $\boldsymbol{y}$-axis.

\begin{aligned}A&= \int_{a}^{b} f(y) – g(y) \phantom{x}dy\end{aligned}

For this equation, $\boldsymbol{f(y)}$ is the right-most curve and $\boldsymbol{[a, b]}$ are the horizontal bounds. This means that we can also define areas between two curves based on their positioning from left to right.

In the past, we’ve learned that the area under the curve can be approximated using definite integrals or the Riemann sum. We can use the formal definition of an area under the curve to mathematically define the area between two curves.

Let’s say we have two continuous functions, $f(x)$ and $g(x)$, over the interval, $[a, b]$. The area between two curves can be defined through the Riemann sum and definite integral expressions shown below where $A$ represents the area between two curves.

 Riemann Sum Definite Integral \begin{aligned}A&= \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{i = 1}^{n} [f(x_i) – g(x_i)]\Delta x_i\\&= \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty}\left[\sum_{i = 1}^{n} f(x_i)\Delta x_i – \sum_{i = 1}^{n} g(x_i)\Delta x_i \right ] \end{aligned} \begin{aligned}A &= \int_{a}^{b} f(x)\phantom{x}dx – \int_{a}^{b}g(x) \phantom{x}dx\\ &= \int_{a}^{b} [f(x) – g(x)]\phantom{x}dx\end{aligned}

These two formulas confirm that the areas between two curves are related to areas under the curve. For example, the functions $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ are continuous over the interval, $[a, b]$. When $g(x) \leq f(x)$ for all $x$ within the given interval, we have the area between the curves of $f(x)$ and $g(x)$:

\begin{aligned}A &= \int_{a}^{b} [f(x) – g(x)] \phantom{x}dx\end{aligned}

This means that the area between the curves bounded by the graph of $\boldsymbol{f(x)}$ and $\boldsymbol{g(x)}$ and the vertical lines formed by $\boldsymbol{x = a}$ and $\boldsymbol{x = b}$ is equivalent to the difference between the areas under the curves.

There are instances, however, that it’s difficult to determine which of the two given functions is positioned directly above the other. There are also times when we’re given the boundaries and curve’s expressions with respect to $y$.

When any of this case happens, we can instead observe the positions of the curve with respect to the $\boldsymbol{y}$-axis.

\begin{aligned}A&= \int_{a}^{b} f(y) – g(y) \phantom{x}dy\end{aligned}

For this equation, $\boldsymbol{f(y)}$ is the right-most curve and $\boldsymbol{[a, b]}$ are the horizontal bounds. This means that we can also define areas between two curves based on their positioning from left to right.

## How to find the area between two curves?

As discussed in the earlier section, we can determine the area between the curves of two functions using their definite integrals. Use these steps below as a guide when calculating the area between two curves, $f(x)$ and $g(x)$:

• When it’s not given yet, find the two vertical bounds of the two functions by equating the two functions and solving for $x$.
• Identify which of the function is positioned higher than the other over the interval, $[a, b]$. Graph the functions when you have to.
• Label the higher function as $f(x)$ and the lower function as $g(x)$. This is an optional step but extremely helpful when you’re still mastering this topic.
• Simplify the expression of $f(x) – g(x)$ then evaluate the definite integral, $\int_{a}^{b} [f(x) – g(x)]\phantom{x} dx$.

The best way to familiarize yourself with the steps is by practice. Of course, as with areas under the curve, when the returned value is negative, finalize the area by taking its absolute value.

Let’s begin by calculating the area of the region bounded by the curves of $y = x^2$ and $y = -x^2 + 4x$. Since the interval is still not given, let’s equate the two equations to find the intervals enclosing the region.

\begin{aligned}x^2 &= -x^2 + 4x\\ 2x^2 – 4x&= 0\\2x(x -2)&= 0\\\\x&=0, 2\end{aligned}

This means that the we’re calculating the area of the region from the interval, $[0, 2]$. Substitute $x =0$ and $x=2$ into the values of either $y = x^2$ or $y = -x^2 + 4x$ to find the curves’ points of intersection.

 \begin{aligned}\boldsymbol{x}\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}\boldsymbol{y}\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}\boldsymbol{(x, y)}\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}x &= 0\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}y &= 0^2\\&= 0\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}(0, 0)\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}x &= 2\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}y &= 2^2\\&= 4\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}(2, 4)\end{aligned}

Let us show you the graph of the curves on one $xy$-coordinate system then highlight the area of the region enclosed by the two functions.

The image shows us that the function $y = -x^2 + 4x$ lies above the curve of $y = x^2$ from $x=0$ to $x =2$. Hence, we’ll use $f(x) = -x^2 + 4x$ and $g(x) = x^2$ when calculating for the area between these two curves.

\begin{aligned}A &= \int_{0}^{2} [f(x) – g(x)] \phantom{x}dx\\&= \int_{0}^{2} (-x^2 + 4x – x^2) \phantom{x}dx\\ &= \int_{0}^{2} (-2x^2 + 4x) \phantom{x}dx\\ &=\int_{0}^{2} -2(x^2 – 2x) \phantom{x}dx \end{aligned}

Now that we have a definite integral expression representing the areas between the two curves. Apply integral properties and antiderivative formulas to evaluate the definite integral. Here are some tips to follow if you want to try evaluating the definite integral first:

• Factor out $-2$ from the integral expression using the constant multiple property, $\int_{a}^{b} k f(x) \phantom{x}dx = k\int_{a}^{b} f(x) \phantom{x}dx$.
• Distribute the integral operation using the difference property of definite integrals, $\int_{a}^{b} [f(x) –g(x)]\phantom{x}dx = \int_{a}^{b} f(x)\phantom{x}dx – \int_{a}^{b} g(x)\phantom{x}dx$.
• Apply the power rule,$\int x^n \phantom{x}dx = \dfrac{x^{n +1}}{n + 1} + C$, to integrate each term.

\begin{aligned}\int_{0}^{2} -2(x^2 – 2x) \phantom{x}dx &= -2\int_{0}^{2} (x^2 – 2x) \phantom{x}dx \\&= -2 \left[\int_{0}^{2}x^2\phantom{x}dx – \int_{0}^{2}2x \phantom{x}dx \right ]\\&= -2\left[\int_{0}^{2}x^2\phantom{x}dx – 2\int_{0}^{2}x \phantom{x}dx \right ]\\&= -2\left[\left(\dfrac{x^{2 + 1}}{2 + 1} \right )- 2\left(\dfrac{x^{1 + 1}}{1 + 1} \right )\right ]_{0}^{2}\\&=-2\left[\dfrac{x^3}{3} – \dfrac{x^2}{2}\right ]_{0}^{2} \\&= -2 \left[\left(\dfrac{2^3}{3} – \dfrac{2^2}{2} \right ) – 2\left(\dfrac{0^3}{3} – \dfrac{0^2}{2} \right ) \right ]\\&= -2 \cdot \dfrac{2}{3}\\&= -\dfrac{4}{3}   \end{aligned}

Since $A$ is negative, simply take the absolute value of the resulting expression. This means that the area of the region between the two functions, $y = x^2$ and $y = -x^2 + 4x$, is equal to $\dfrac{4}{3}$ squared units from $x = 0$ to $x =2$.

Let’s now try finding the area between the curves with respect to the vertical axis: $g(y) = 1 – y^2$ and $f(y) = y^2 -1$ enclosed from $y =-1$ to $y=1$.

When this happens, we simply subtract the left-most function from the right-most function then evaluate the definite integral from $y= -1$ to $y =1$.

\begin{aligned}\int_{-1}^{1} [f(y) -g(y)]\phantom{x}dy &= \int_{-1}^{1} [(y^2 -1) -(1- y^2)]\phantom{x}dy\\ &=  \int_{-1}^{1} (y^2 -1 -1 + y^2) \phantom{x}dy\\&= \int_{-1}^{1}2y^2 -2 \phantom{x}dy\end{aligned}

Evaluate the definite integral using antiderivative formulas and properties we’ve learned in the past. The only difference is that we’re using the variable, $y$.

\begin{aligned}\int_{-1}^{1}2y^2 -2 \phantom{x}dy &=  2\int_{-1}^{1} (y^2 – 1)\phantom{x}dy\\&= 2\left[\int_{-1}^{1} y^2\phantom{x}dy – \int_{-1}^{1}1\phantom{x}dy \right ]\\&= 2\left[\dfrac{y^{2 + 1}}{2 + 1} – y\right ]_{-1}^{1}\\&= 2\left[\dfrac{y^3}{3} -y \right ]_{-1}^{1}\\&= 2\left[\left(\dfrac{1^3}{3} – 1 \right ) -\left(\dfrac{(-1)^3}{3} – (-1) \right ) \right ]\\&= 2\left(-\dfrac{4}{3} \right )\\&= -\dfrac{8}{3}\end{aligned}

Take the absolute value of the result to return the area between the two curves. Hence, we’ve shown that the area between $g(y) = 1 – y^2$ and $f(y) = y^2 -1$ is equal to $\dfrac{8}{3}$ squared units.

In the next section, we’ll show you more examples with different cases and functions to help you master this topic. These examples will also be a great avenue for you to refresh your skills in evaluating integrals, in general.

Example 1

Find the area bounded by the following curves: $y = 2x + 1$, $y = 4 – x$, $x = 1$, and $x =4$.

Solution

Graph the two curves by finding the corresponding ordered pairs when we substitute $x= 0$ and $x =4$ into each expression.

 \begin{aligned}\boldsymbol{x}\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}\boldsymbol{y}\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}\boldsymbol{(x, y)}\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}y &= 2x +1\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}x &= 1\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}y &= 2(1) +1\\&= 3\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}(1, 3)\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}x &= 4\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}y &= 2(4) + 1\\&= 9\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}(4, 9)\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}y &= 4 -x\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}x &= 1\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}y &= 4 – 1\\&= 3\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}(1, 3)\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}x &= 4\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}y &= 4 – 4\\&= 0\end{aligned} \begin{aligned}(4, 0)\end{aligned}

Use these ordered pairs as a guide when graphing the graph. Use the curve of the functions to help you identify which curve is lying on top of the other over the interval, $[1, 4]$.