Areas Between Two Curves

Areas Between Two Curves

IB Year 6 | Grade 12
IB AA HL integration notes — 23 October 2026

Find all intersections bounding the required region. A vertical strip has height equal to the upper curve minus the lower curve, even when both lie below the horizontal axis.

\(A=\int_a^b[\mathrm{f}(x)-\mathrm{g}(x)]\,\mathrm{d}x\), provided \(\mathrm{f}(x)\geq\mathrm{g}(x)\) throughout the interval.

For \(y=2x\) and \(y=x^2\), intersections satisfy \(x(x-2)=0\). On \(0\leq x\leq2\), the line is above the parabola.

\(A=\int_0^2(2x-x^2)\,\mathrm{d}x=\left[x^2-\dfrac{x^3}{3}\right]_0^2=\dfrac43\).

If the curves exchange order inside the interval, split there and reverse the subtraction on the next piece. State area in square units.

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