The Geometry of Perspective
Welcome, fellow traveler on the path to JEE mastery. Today, we are going to unravel a beautiful problem involving the area bounded by curves.
Often, when we see equations like y2−2y=−x and x+y=0, our instinct is to immediately try to graph them as functions of x. But here lies the first lesson of the day: Perspective is everything.
Phase 1
The Shift
Look at the equation y2−2y=−x. If we try to solve for y, we are forced into the quadratic formula, which brings in square roots and potential for error.
But what if we look at it from the perspective of the y-axis? If we rewrite it as x=2y−y2, suddenly, it becomes a simple parabola opening towards the negative x-axis.
Similarly, the line x+y=0 becomes x=−y. By shifting our perspective, we have transformed a potentially messy problem into a clean, elegant exercise in integration.
Phase 2
The Dance of Intersection
To find the area enclosed, we must first find where these two dancers meet. We set the two expressions for x equal to each other:
Rearranging this, we get:
Factoring this is straightforward: y(y−3)=0. This tells us that our curves intersect at y=0 and y=3. These are our limits of integration.
Imagine the region bounded between these two values; this is the stage where our area calculation will take place.
Phase 3
The Integral
Now, we set up our integral. Since we are integrating with respect to y, we use horizontal strips of thickness dy. The area A is defined as the integral of the right-hand curve minus the left-hand curve:
Substituting our expressions, we get:
Simplifying the integrand, we have:
This is a standard polynomial integral. Let's solve it step-by-step:
Evaluating at the upper limit y=3:
A=(23(3)2−333)=(227−9)=13.5−9=4.5
So, the area A is 29.
Phase 4
The Final Reveal
We have found the area A=4.5. But remember, in the heat of a JEE exam, the final step is where the traps are often laid.
The question asks for 8A. We must not stop at A. We take our result and multiply:
And there it is. The elegance of the solution lies not just in the calculation, but in the choice of perspective.
By choosing to integrate with respect to y, we turned a complex problem into a simple, satisfying victory. Keep this mindset—always look for the path of least resistance, and the math will reward you.