Lecture 27: Greens Theorem

27.1 Greens Theorem on a rectangle

Suppose F (x, y) = P (x, y)i + Q(x, y)j is a continuous vector field defined on a closed
rectangle D = [a, b] [c, d]. Let D be the boundary of D oriented in the counterclockwise
direction. Let C1 , C2 , C3 , and C4 be the sides of D in counterclockwise order, starting
with the bottom. We parametrize C1 by (t) = (t, c), a t b; C2 by (t) = (b, t),
c t d; C3 by (t) = (t, d), a t b; and C4 by (t) = (a, t), c t d. Then
Z Z Z Z Z
F dr = F dr + F dr + F dr + F dr
D C1 C2 C3 C4
Z Z Z Z
= F dr + F dr F dr F dr
C1 C2 C3 C4
Zb Z d Z b Z d
= P (t, c)dt + Q(b, t)dt P (t, d)dt Q(a, t)dt
a c a c
Z b Z d
= (P (t, d) P (t, c))dt + (Q(b, t) Q(a, t))dt
a c
Z b Z d Z dZ b

= P (t, y)dydt + Q(x, t)dxdt
a c y c a x
Z b Z d Z d Z b

= P (x, y)dydx + Q(x, y)dxdy
a c y c a x
Z b Z d  

= Q(x, y) P (x, y) dydx
a c x y
Z Z  
Q P
= dA.
D x y
This result is a special case of Greens Theorem.

Example We will evaluate Z

x2 ydx + xydy,
C
where C is the rectangle with vertices (0, 0), (3, 0), (3, 1), and (0, 1), oriented in the coun-
terclockwise direction. Using Greens Theorem,
Z Z 3Z 1
2
x ydx + xydy = (y x2 )dydx
C 0 0
Z 3 
1 2
= x dx
0 2
3
= 9
2
15
= .
2
27-1
 Lecture 27: Greens Theorem 27-2

27.2 Greens Theorem

Definition A simple closed curve in Rn is a curve which is closed and does not intersect
itself. The positive orientation of a simple closed curve is the counterclockwise orientation.

Greens Theorem Suppose F (x, y) = P (x, y)i + Q(x, y)j is a continuous vector field de-
fined on a region D in R2 . Moreover, suppose P and Q have continuous partial derivatives
and that the boundary D is a simple closed curve with positive orientation. Then
Z Z Z  
Q P
P dx + Qdy = dA.
D D x y

Example Let C be the triangle with vertices at (0, 0), (1, 1), and (0, 1), with positive
orientation. Then Z Z 1Z y
xydx xdy = (1 x)dxdy
C 0 0
Z 1Z y
= (1 + x)dxdy
0 0
Z 1
y2

= y+ dy
0 2
 
1 1
= +
2 6
2
= .
3

Note that each of the vector fields

F (x, y) = (0, x),

F (x, y) = (y, 0),

and
1
F (x, y) = (y, x)
2
has the property that
Q P
= 1.
x y
It follows that if A is the area of a region D which satisfies the conditions of Greens
theorem, then Z Z Z
A= dA = xdy,
D D
Z Z Z
A= dA = ydx,
D D
 Lecture 27: Greens Theorem 27-3

and Z Z Z
1
A= dA = xdy ydx.
D 2 D

Example Let E be the ellipse

x2 y2
+ = 1.
a2 b2
We may parametrize E, in the counterclockwise direction, using (t) = (a cos(t), b sin(t)),
0 t 2. If A is the area of the region D enclosed by E, then
Z Z
A= dA
D
Z
1
= xdy ydx
2 E
1 2
Z
= (b sin(t), a cos(t)) (a sin(t), b cos(t)dt
2 0
1 2
Z
= (ab sin2 (t) + ab cos2 (t))dt
2 0
1 2
Z
= abdt
2 0
= ab.

Note that if F (x, y) = P (x, y)i + Q(x, y)j, P and Q have continuous partial derivatives on
an open simply connected region D, and

P (x, y) = Q(x, y)
y x

for all (x, y) in D, it now follows, by Greens Theorem, that

Z
F dr = 0
C

for any simply closed curve in C. It follows that F is a conservative vector field.

Notation: If C is a closed curve with orientation in the counterclockwise direction, the line
integral Z
F dr
C

may be denoted I
F dr.
C