Question

Difficulty: HardDefinite Integrals and Area Under Curves

Calculate the area of the finite region bounded by the parabola y=3x2−12x+9y = 3x^2 - 12x + 9 and the xx-axis.

Answer: 4 square units

Answer

The area of the bounded region is 4 square units.
Finding the x-intercepts of y=3x2−12x+9y = 3x^2 - 12x + 9 gives x=1x = 1 and x=3x = 3. Integrating −y-y from 11 to 33 gives [−x3+6x2−9x]13=0−(−4)=4\left[-x^3 + 6x^2 - 9x\right]_{1}^{3} = 0 - (-4) = 4 square units.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the limits of integration by finding the x-intercepts of the curve.
x=1x = 1 and x=3x = 3
The bounded region lies between the points where the curve intersects the x-axis (y=0y = 0).
2
Set up the definite integral with the correct integrand sign.
A=∫13(9−12x+3x2) dx=∫13(−3x2+12x−9) dxA = \int_{1}^{3} (9 - 12x + 3x^2) \, dx = \int_{1}^{3} (-3x^2 + 12x - 9) \, dx
Since y≤0y \le 0 on [1,3][1, 3], negating the function ensures the calculated area is positive.
3
Integrate term-by-term and evaluate between upper limit 3 and lower limit 1.
[−x3+6x2−9x]13=(0)−(−4)=4\left[-x^3 + 6x^2 - 9x\right]_{1}^{3} = (0) - (-4) = 4
Applying the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus yields the exact value of 4.

Key Concept

Area bounded by a curve and the x-axis lying below the x-axis
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