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Exercise 794Calculus › Multivariable calculus › Vector calculusL2Added 2 Nov 2026

Line integral of a differential form

#line integral#differential form#parametrization

Statement

Compute the line integral of ω=(x+y)dx+(x−y)dy\omega = (x+y)dx + (x-y)dy along the segment from A(0,0)A(0,0) to B(1,1)B(1,1).

Hint

Parametrize the segment: γ(t)=(t,t)\gamma(t) = (t,t) for t∈[0,1]t \in [0,1].

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Solution

Parametrization. γ(t)=(t,t)\gamma(t) = (t,t), γ′(t)=(1,1)\gamma'(t) = (1,1), t∈[0,1]t \in [0,1].

Substitution.
∫γω=∫01[(t+t)⋅1+(t−t)⋅1]dt=∫012t dt=[t2]01=1.\int_\gamma \omega = \int_0^1 \left[ (t+t)\cdot 1 + (t-t)\cdot 1 \right] dt = \int_0^1 2t \, dt = [t^2]_0^1 = 1.

Remark. If ω\omega were exact, the integral would depend only on the endpoints. Here, ω\omega is closed since ∂∂y(x+y)=1=∂∂x(x−y)\frac{\partial}{\partial y}(x+y) = 1 = \frac{\partial}{\partial x}(x-y), and the domain is simply connected, so ω\omega is exact. A primitive is F(x,y)=x22+xy−y22F(x,y) = \frac{x^2}{2} + xy - \frac{y^2}{2}, giving F(1,1)−F(0,0)=12+1−12=1F(1,1)-F(0,0) = \frac12 + 1 - \frac12 = 1.