Scribd
Upload
8 views3 pages

Arc Length Calculation in Calculus

The document derives a formula for calculating the arc length of a curve over an interval. It does this by first subdividing the interval into smaller subintervals and approximating the curve as a polygonal path formed by line segments between those subintervals. Taking the limit of this approximation as the subintervals approach zero length yields an integral formula for arc length as the square root of one plus the derivative squared, integrated over the domain. Examples are given to demonstrate computing the arc length of curves defined parametrically or as a function.

Uploaded by

Artist Recording
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views3 pages

Arc Length Calculation in Calculus

The document derives a formula for calculating the arc length of a curve over an interval. It does this by first subdividing the interval into smaller subintervals and approximating the curve as a polygonal path formed by line segments between those subintervals. Taking the limit of this approximation as the subintervals approach zero length yields an integral formula for arc length as the square root of one plus the derivative squared, integrated over the domain. Examples are given to demonstrate computing the arc length of curves defined parametrically or as a function.

Uploaded by

Artist Recording
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial:

Arc Length
Suppose f is continuously dierentiable on the interval [a, b]. Lets derive a formula for the length L of the curve on the interval, called the arc length over [a, b]. Well start by subdividing the interval [a, b] into n subintervals [x0 , x1 ], [x1 , x2 ], . . . , [xn1 , xn ] where a = x0 < x1 < < xn1 < xn = b. Introduce the line segments between (x0 , f (x0 )) and (x1 , f (x1 )), (x1 , f (x1 )) and (x2 , f (x2 )), . . . , (xn1 , f (xn1 )) and (xn , f (xn )). The resulting polygonal path approximates the curve given by y = f (x), and its length approximates the arc length of f (x) over [a, b]. Lets nd the length of the polygonal path by adding up the lengths of the individual line segments. The kth line segment is the hypotenuse of a triangle with base xk and height f (xk ) f (xk1 ), and so has length Lk = (xk )2 + [f (xk ) f (xk1 )]2 .

By the Mean Value Theorem, there exists x [xk1 , xk ] such that k f (xk ) f (xk1 ) = f (x ) k xk xk1 so f (xk ) f (xk1 ) = f (x )(xk xk1 ) = f (x )xk . k k Thus, Lk = (xk )2 + [f (x )xk ]2 = k
n n

1 + [f (x )]2 xk . k

Finally, the length of the entire polygonal path is Lk =


k=1 k=1

1 + [f (x )]2 xk k

which has the form of a Riemann sum. Increasing the number of subintervals such that max xk 0, n Lk L. That is, k=1
n

L=

max xk 0

lim

1 + [f (x )]2 xk = k
k=1

1 + [f (x)]2 dx
a

by the denition of the denite integral as a limit of Riemann sums. Thus, we have proved the following: Arc Length Let f (x) be continuously dierentiable on [a, b]. Then the arc length L of f (x) over [a, b] is given by
b

L=
a

1 + [f (x)]2 dx.

Similarly, if x = g(y) with g continuously dierentiable on [c, d], then the arc length L of g(y) over [c, d] is given by
d

L=
c

1 + [g (y)]2 dy.

These integrals often can only be computed using numerical methods. Example We can compute the arc length of the graph of f (x) = x3/2 over [0, 1] as follows:
1 1

L=
0

1 + [f (x)]2 dx =
0 1

1 + [3x1/2 /2]2 dx 1 + 9x/4 dx


0 1 8 3/2 (1 + 9x/4) 27 0 3/2 (1 + 9/4) (1)3/2 (13/4)3/2 1 1.44.

= = = =

Exploration

Key Concepts
Let f (x) be continuously dierentiable on [a, b]. Then the arc length L of f (x) over [a, b] is given by
b

L=
a

1 + [f (x)]2 dx

Similarly, if x = g(y) with g continuously dierentiable on [c, d], then the arc length L of g(y) over [c, d] is given by
d

L=
c

1 + [g (y)]2 dy

[Im ready to take the quiz.] [I need to review more.] [Take me back to the Tutorial Page]

You might also like