Area of the region bounded by the curves $y=x^2$ & $y=x^4$












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One of my last assignments for my first semester of calculus is a list of area, volume, and work problems using integrals, I worked one out, but can't find the answer anywhere, and just want to make sure I'm correct, here's my work:



Find the area of the region bounded by the curves $y=x^2$ and $y=x^4$



$x^4=x^2$



$x^4-x^2=0$



$x^2(x^2-1)=0$



$x=1, -1$



$int_1^1(x^4-x^2)dx$



$left[frac{x^5}{5}-frac{x^3}{3}right]$ from $-1$ to $1$



$left[frac{(1)^5}{5}-frac{(1)^3}{3}right] - left[frac{(-1)^5}{5}-frac{(-1)^3}{3}right]$



$left[frac{1}{5}-frac{1}{3}right] - left[frac{-1}{5}+frac{1^3}{3}right]$



$left[frac{3-5}{15}-frac{-3+5}{15}right]$



$left[frac{-2}{15}+frac{-2}{15}right] = frac{-4}{15}$



I double checked the definite integral online and it got $frac{-4}{15}$ as well, so I guess that means I"m correct I'm just confused as to how an area can be negative unless I'm missing something obvious.



My prof also left a note that says "*Make sure you have the entire region", where "entire" is underlined, is there more to this problem than what I've done?










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    0














    One of my last assignments for my first semester of calculus is a list of area, volume, and work problems using integrals, I worked one out, but can't find the answer anywhere, and just want to make sure I'm correct, here's my work:



    Find the area of the region bounded by the curves $y=x^2$ and $y=x^4$



    $x^4=x^2$



    $x^4-x^2=0$



    $x^2(x^2-1)=0$



    $x=1, -1$



    $int_1^1(x^4-x^2)dx$



    $left[frac{x^5}{5}-frac{x^3}{3}right]$ from $-1$ to $1$



    $left[frac{(1)^5}{5}-frac{(1)^3}{3}right] - left[frac{(-1)^5}{5}-frac{(-1)^3}{3}right]$



    $left[frac{1}{5}-frac{1}{3}right] - left[frac{-1}{5}+frac{1^3}{3}right]$



    $left[frac{3-5}{15}-frac{-3+5}{15}right]$



    $left[frac{-2}{15}+frac{-2}{15}right] = frac{-4}{15}$



    I double checked the definite integral online and it got $frac{-4}{15}$ as well, so I guess that means I"m correct I'm just confused as to how an area can be negative unless I'm missing something obvious.



    My prof also left a note that says "*Make sure you have the entire region", where "entire" is underlined, is there more to this problem than what I've done?










    share|cite|improve this question



























      0












      0








      0







      One of my last assignments for my first semester of calculus is a list of area, volume, and work problems using integrals, I worked one out, but can't find the answer anywhere, and just want to make sure I'm correct, here's my work:



      Find the area of the region bounded by the curves $y=x^2$ and $y=x^4$



      $x^4=x^2$



      $x^4-x^2=0$



      $x^2(x^2-1)=0$



      $x=1, -1$



      $int_1^1(x^4-x^2)dx$



      $left[frac{x^5}{5}-frac{x^3}{3}right]$ from $-1$ to $1$



      $left[frac{(1)^5}{5}-frac{(1)^3}{3}right] - left[frac{(-1)^5}{5}-frac{(-1)^3}{3}right]$



      $left[frac{1}{5}-frac{1}{3}right] - left[frac{-1}{5}+frac{1^3}{3}right]$



      $left[frac{3-5}{15}-frac{-3+5}{15}right]$



      $left[frac{-2}{15}+frac{-2}{15}right] = frac{-4}{15}$



      I double checked the definite integral online and it got $frac{-4}{15}$ as well, so I guess that means I"m correct I'm just confused as to how an area can be negative unless I'm missing something obvious.



      My prof also left a note that says "*Make sure you have the entire region", where "entire" is underlined, is there more to this problem than what I've done?










      share|cite|improve this question















      One of my last assignments for my first semester of calculus is a list of area, volume, and work problems using integrals, I worked one out, but can't find the answer anywhere, and just want to make sure I'm correct, here's my work:



      Find the area of the region bounded by the curves $y=x^2$ and $y=x^4$



      $x^4=x^2$



      $x^4-x^2=0$



      $x^2(x^2-1)=0$



      $x=1, -1$



      $int_1^1(x^4-x^2)dx$



      $left[frac{x^5}{5}-frac{x^3}{3}right]$ from $-1$ to $1$



      $left[frac{(1)^5}{5}-frac{(1)^3}{3}right] - left[frac{(-1)^5}{5}-frac{(-1)^3}{3}right]$



      $left[frac{1}{5}-frac{1}{3}right] - left[frac{-1}{5}+frac{1^3}{3}right]$



      $left[frac{3-5}{15}-frac{-3+5}{15}right]$



      $left[frac{-2}{15}+frac{-2}{15}right] = frac{-4}{15}$



      I double checked the definite integral online and it got $frac{-4}{15}$ as well, so I guess that means I"m correct I'm just confused as to how an area can be negative unless I'm missing something obvious.



      My prof also left a note that says "*Make sure you have the entire region", where "entire" is underlined, is there more to this problem than what I've done?







      calculus






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      edited Dec 7 at 7:04









      Eevee Trainer

      3,412325




      3,412325










      asked Dec 7 at 6:55









      Ben Dreslinski

      31




      31






















          1 Answer
          1






          active

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          1














          I think you do indeed have the entire region. The only problem is that your integral should have been



          $$int_{-1}^1(x^2-x^4)dx$$



          instead, because $x^2≥x^4$ in the region where $-1<x<1$.






          share|cite|improve this answer























          • Oh I see, that would make it positive which makes much more sense. I knew it was the integral where f(x) > g(x), I just figured that x^4 is greater than x^2, totally forgot it was over that interval. Thanks a lot!
            – Ben Dreslinski
            Dec 7 at 7:03










          • Fixed it. ()()()
            – glowstonetrees
            Dec 7 at 17:50











          Your Answer





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          1 Answer
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          active

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          1 Answer
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          active

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          1














          I think you do indeed have the entire region. The only problem is that your integral should have been



          $$int_{-1}^1(x^2-x^4)dx$$



          instead, because $x^2≥x^4$ in the region where $-1<x<1$.






          share|cite|improve this answer























          • Oh I see, that would make it positive which makes much more sense. I knew it was the integral where f(x) > g(x), I just figured that x^4 is greater than x^2, totally forgot it was over that interval. Thanks a lot!
            – Ben Dreslinski
            Dec 7 at 7:03










          • Fixed it. ()()()
            – glowstonetrees
            Dec 7 at 17:50
















          1














          I think you do indeed have the entire region. The only problem is that your integral should have been



          $$int_{-1}^1(x^2-x^4)dx$$



          instead, because $x^2≥x^4$ in the region where $-1<x<1$.






          share|cite|improve this answer























          • Oh I see, that would make it positive which makes much more sense. I knew it was the integral where f(x) > g(x), I just figured that x^4 is greater than x^2, totally forgot it was over that interval. Thanks a lot!
            – Ben Dreslinski
            Dec 7 at 7:03










          • Fixed it. ()()()
            – glowstonetrees
            Dec 7 at 17:50














          1












          1








          1






          I think you do indeed have the entire region. The only problem is that your integral should have been



          $$int_{-1}^1(x^2-x^4)dx$$



          instead, because $x^2≥x^4$ in the region where $-1<x<1$.






          share|cite|improve this answer














          I think you do indeed have the entire region. The only problem is that your integral should have been



          $$int_{-1}^1(x^2-x^4)dx$$



          instead, because $x^2≥x^4$ in the region where $-1<x<1$.







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited Dec 7 at 14:39

























          answered Dec 7 at 6:58









          glowstonetrees

          2,285317




          2,285317












          • Oh I see, that would make it positive which makes much more sense. I knew it was the integral where f(x) > g(x), I just figured that x^4 is greater than x^2, totally forgot it was over that interval. Thanks a lot!
            – Ben Dreslinski
            Dec 7 at 7:03










          • Fixed it. ()()()
            – glowstonetrees
            Dec 7 at 17:50


















          • Oh I see, that would make it positive which makes much more sense. I knew it was the integral where f(x) > g(x), I just figured that x^4 is greater than x^2, totally forgot it was over that interval. Thanks a lot!
            – Ben Dreslinski
            Dec 7 at 7:03










          • Fixed it. ()()()
            – glowstonetrees
            Dec 7 at 17:50
















          Oh I see, that would make it positive which makes much more sense. I knew it was the integral where f(x) > g(x), I just figured that x^4 is greater than x^2, totally forgot it was over that interval. Thanks a lot!
          – Ben Dreslinski
          Dec 7 at 7:03




          Oh I see, that would make it positive which makes much more sense. I knew it was the integral where f(x) > g(x), I just figured that x^4 is greater than x^2, totally forgot it was over that interval. Thanks a lot!
          – Ben Dreslinski
          Dec 7 at 7:03












          Fixed it. ()()()
          – glowstonetrees
          Dec 7 at 17:50




          Fixed it. ()()()
          – glowstonetrees
          Dec 7 at 17:50


















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