Using integration, find the area of the region bounded by the parabola y2=4x and the circle 4x2+4y2=9.
Solution
The circle is x2+y2=49 (centre O, radius 23) and the parabola is y2=4x. Intersection: substitute x=4y2 into the circle, 16y4+y2=49. With t=y2, t2+16t−36=0⇒(t−2)(t+18)=0, so t=2, i.e. y=±2 (and x=21). Integrating in y (right boundary = circle, left boundary = parabola), and using symmetry about the x-axis:
A=∫−22(49−y2−4y2)dy=2∫02(49−y2−4y2)dy.
Now 2∫0249−y2dy=[y49−y2+49sin−132y]02=22+49sin−1322, and 2∫024y2dy=32.
Since sin−1322=2π−sin−131, this equals 62+89π−49sin−131.Circle of radius 3/2 about the origin cut by the parabola y^2 = 4x at y = +sqrt(2) and y = -sqrt(2).