find the area of the region enclosed by the curve y=cos(3x) and the interval [0,pi]?

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

To find the area enclosed by the given curve we will have to graph first. We notice that between 0 and Pi/6, and Pi/2 and 5Pi/6 the graph is above the x-axis, but between Pi/6 and Pi/2, and 5pi/6 and pi the graph is below. 

To find the area we will have to use four definite integrals over the three different intervals.

`A=int_0^(pi/6)cos3xdx+int_(Pi/6)^(Pi/2)(-cos3x)dx+int_(pi/2)^(5Pi/6)cos3xdx+int_((5Pi)/6)^Pi(-cos3x)dx=`

`1/3sin3x` between o and Pi/6 + `-1/3sin3x` between Pi/6 and Pi/2+
`1/3sin3x` between Pi/2 and 5Pi/6+ `-1/3sin3x` between 5Pi/6 and Pi=

`1/3[sinPi/2-0-sin3Pi/2+sin3Pi/6+sin3(5Pi/6)-sin3pi/2-sin3pi+sin3(5Pi/6)]=`

`1/3[1-(-1)+1-(-1)-0+1]=1/3*5=5/3` 

 

 

See eNotes Ad-Free

Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial