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    IBMediumCalculus10–12

    Why the Integral and the Area Disagree

    Porque é que o Integral e a Área Não Coincidem

    For the curve y=x2−4y = x^{2} - 4, evaluate ∫03(x2−4) dx\int_{0}^{3} \left(x^{2} - 4\right) \, dx, find the total area enclosed between the curve and the xx-axis for 0≤x≤30 \le x \le 3, and explain why the two answers differ.

    A definite integral counts the parts below the axis negatively, so an area calculation has to be split. Find where the curve meets the xx-axis inside the interval before integrating anything.

    Solution

    Step 1 of 10

    1. 1.The integral: