If the area of the region is , , , then the value of is :
- A
- B
- C
- D
If the area of the region is , , , then the value of is :
Correct answer:D
Standard Method
Given: The region is .
Find: The value of when the area is in lowest terms.
The region is bounded by the parabola , the line , and the coordinate axes in the first quadrant.
The parabola meets the -axis at .
The line meets the -axis at .
For , the lower boundary is .
For , the lower boundary is .
So the total area is
Now,
and
Therefore,
Hence and , with .
Therefore,
So, the correct option is D.
Region Split Explanation
Given: Upper curve , lower condition , and first-quadrant restrictions .
Find: The area of the feasible region.
The first-quadrant restriction changes the lower boundary. Although the line is , once it goes below the -axis, the condition becomes stronger.
Thus,
This is equivalent to
Evaluating gives
Therefore, , so the correct option is D.
Using as the lower boundary all the way up to is incorrect, because for the line is below the -axis. In the first quadrant, the actual lower boundary there is .
Forgetting the condition leads to integrating over a region outside the first quadrant. Always compare all given inequalities before choosing the lower and upper curves.
Taking the area as only the area between the parabola and the line misses the contribution where the region is bounded below by the -axis. The interval must be split at .
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