The Geometry of the Trap
Imagine you are standing on a coordinate plane, looking at two distinct paths. One is a graceful, upward-opening curve, the parabola defined by y=4x2. The other is a sharp, straight line, y=8x+12.
The problem asks us to find the area of the region where 4x2≤y≤8x+12. This is not just an abstract inequality; it is a physical trap. The parabola acts as the floor, and the line acts as the ceiling.
Our goal is to calculate the total space enclosed between these two boundaries. To do this, we must first understand where these two paths meet, as these intersection points will define the start and end of our journey.
Finding the Boundaries
To find where the line and the parabola cross, we set their equations equal to each other:
4x2=8x+12
We simplify by dividing the entire equation by
4, which gives us
x2=2x+3. Rearranging this into a standard quadratic form, we get:
x2−2x−3=0
Now, we look for two numbers that multiply to −3 and add to −2. Those numbers are −3 and 1. Thus, we can factor the equation as (x−3)(x+1)=0.
This reveals our intersection points: x=3 and x=−1. These are the boundaries of our region, meaning the area we seek is confined strictly between x=−1 and x=3.
The Engine of Calculation
With our limits defined, we turn to the power of calculus. The area A between two curves is the integral of the upper curve minus the lower curve.
In our case, the line is the upper boundary, so we set up the integral:
A=∫−13(8x+12−4x2)dx
This integral is the engine that will calculate the area for us. We integrate term by term:
1. The integral of 8x is 4x2.
2. The integral of 12 is 12x.
3. The integral of −4x2 is −34x3.
We are left with the expression evaluated from
−1 to
3:
[4x2+12x−34x3]−13
The Final Triumph
Now, we apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. First, we substitute the upper limit,
x=3:
(4(3)2+12(3)−34(3)3)=(36+36−36)=36
Next, we substitute the lower limit,
x=−1:
(4(−1)2+12(−1)−34(−1)3)=(4−12+34)=−8+34
Finally, we subtract the lower limit result from the upper limit result:
A=36−(−8+34)=36+8−34=44−34
Converting
44 to a fraction with a denominator of
3, we get:
3132−34=3128
And there it is! The area of the region is 3128 square units. You have successfully navigated the geometry, solved the quadratic, and mastered the integral.