# Math Help - Area between curves (with an absolute value AHHH)

1. ## Area between curves (with an absolute value AHHH)

Absolute values throw me off. Can anyone break it down for me please?

Find the area of the region between the curves y = |x| and y = x^2 - 2

I start off finding the points of intersection which would be:

|x| = x^2 - 2

right? What now though? Thanks a bunch!

2. The next step is to solve these (separately):

x = x^2-2
and
-x = x^2-2

then you have to discard any solutions with x<0 for the first one and discard the solutions with -x<0 for the 2nd. Then see how you go

3. Hello, kep84!

Find the area of the region between the curves $y \:= \:|x|$ and $y \:= \:x^2 - 2$
Did you make a sketch?
Code:
     (-2,2)         |         (2,2)
*           |           *
::*         |         *::
:::*       |       *:::
*::::*     |     *::::*
::::::*   |   *::::::
*:::::::* | *:::::::*
-----*:-:-:-:-*-:-:-:-:*-----
*::::::|::::::*
*:::|:::*
*
|

Can you finish it now?

4. another hint is to solve the area on left of the y-axis and on the right separately, then add them together..