# Integral Area

• Jul 2nd 2011, 02:03 PM
weber
Integral Area
Hello fellow math members!

I can't find this area of this two function intersecion:
Y1= $x^3-x$
Y2=sin(pi*x)

For $-1\leq x\leq 1$

From what I know, I need to do y1=y2 initially, right?
But even that I did't get to resolve =/

Any help? ^^

Spoiler:

Thanks!
• Jul 2nd 2011, 02:44 PM
Re: Integral Area
A graphical representation of the intersections of the two functions would be sufficient in my opinion, but if you want to be slightly more rigorous:

When x = -1, 0, 1 then both $x^3-x = x(x-1)(x+1)$ and $sin([pi x)$ = 0
In the interval (-1,0), $sin([pi x) > 0$ and $x^3-x < 0$ so the two functions cannot be equal.
In the interval (0,1), "" < 0 and "" > 0 so the two functions cannot be equal.

Hence the only intersection points are -1, 0, 1. then set up your integrals.

one will be from -1 to 0 with $sin(pi x) - (x^3-x)$ and the other will be from 0 to 1 with $(x^3-x) - sin(pi x)$. After solving both, add them to get your total area.
• Jul 4th 2011, 07:06 PM
weber
Re: Integral Area
Thanks a lot mate! ;)
Just did it!