Question:medium

The area enclosed between the parabola \( y^2 = 4x \) and the line \( y = 2x - 4 \) is:

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To find the area between curves, first identify the points of intersection, then set up and evaluate the integral of the difference between the functions.
Updated On: Apr 1, 2026
  • \( \frac{17}{3} \) sq. units
  • 15 sq. units
  • \( \frac{19}{3} \) sq. units
  • 9 sq. units
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The task is to determine the area bounded by the parabola \( y^2 = 4x \) and the line \( y = 2x - 4 \). Step 1: Determine Intersection Points To find where the curves intersect, substitute the line's equation into the parabola's equation. \[ y = 2x - 4 \] Substitute \( y \) into \( y^2 = 4x \): \[ (2x - 4)^2 = 4x \] Expand the equation: \[ 4x^2 - 16x + 16 = 4x \] Simplify the equation: \[ 4x^2 - 20x + 16 = 0 \] Divide the equation by 4: \[ x^2 - 5x + 4 = 0 \] Factor the quadratic: \[ (x - 4)(x - 1) = 0 \] The intersection points occur at \( x = 4 \) and \( x = 1 \). Step 2: Formulate the Area Integral The area between the curves is found by integrating the difference of the functions with respect to \( x \) from 1 to 4. The formula for the area is: \[ A = \int_{1}^{4} \left( (2x - 4) - \sqrt{4x} \right) dx \] Step 3: Compute the Integral First, integrate the linear term \( 2x - 4 \): \[ \int (2x - 4) dx = x^2 - 4x \] Next, integrate the term \( \sqrt{4x} \), which simplifies to \( 2\sqrt{x} \): \[ \int 2\sqrt{x} dx = \frac{4}{3} x^{3/2} \] Now, apply the limits of integration: \[ A = \left[ (x^2 - 4x) - \frac{4}{3} x^{3/2} \right]_{1}^{4} \] Evaluate at \( x = 4 \): \[ A = \left( (16 - 16) - \frac{4}{3} (8) \right) = 0 - \frac{32}{3} \] Evaluate at \( x = 1 \): \[ A = \left( (1 - 4) - \frac{4}{3} (1) \right) = -3 - \frac{4}{3} = -\frac{13}{3} \] The total area is the difference between the evaluations: \[ A = \left( 0 - \frac{32}{3} \right) - \left( -3 - \frac{4}{3} \right) = -\frac{32}{3} + 3 + \frac{4}{3} = -\frac{28}{3} + 3 = \frac{-28 + 9}{3} = -\frac{19}{3} \] Correction: The order of subtraction should be top curve minus bottom curve. We need to determine which function is "above" the other in the interval [1, 4]. Let's test x=2.5: Line: y = 2(2.5) - 4 = 5 - 4 = 1 Parabola: y^2 = 4(2.5) = 10 > y = sqrt(10) approx 3.16 So the parabola is above the line. The integral should be: \[ A = \int_{1}^{4} \left( \sqrt{4x} - (2x - 4) \right) dx \] \[ A = \int_{1}^{4} \left( 2\sqrt{x} - 2x + 4 \right) dx \] \[ A = \left[ \frac{4}{3} x^{3/2} - x^2 + 4x \right]_{1}^{4} \] Evaluate at \( x = 4 \): \[ \left( \frac{4}{3} (4^{3/2}) - 4^2 + 4(4) \right) = \left( \frac{4}{3} (8) - 16 + 16 \right) = \frac{32}{3} \] Evaluate at \( x = 1 \): \[ \left( \frac{4}{3} (1^{3/2}) - 1^2 + 4(1) \right) = \left( \frac{4}{3} - 1 + 4 \right) = \frac{4}{3} + 3 = \frac{4+9}{3} = \frac{13}{3} \] Subtract the lower limit from the upper limit: \[ A = \frac{32}{3} - \frac{13}{3} = \frac{19}{3} \] Thus, the total area is: \[ A = \frac{19}{3} \, \text{sq. units} \]
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