Expert: Paul Klarreich - 4/21/2006

Question
Hi,

The regions A, B, and C are bounded by the graph of function f and the x-axis. If the area of each region is 2, what is the value of the integral of [f(x)+1]dx from -3 to 3?
note:I'll try to descibe the graph of f(x) to you:
region A is a loop below the x-axis(like y=[(x+5)^2]-5, but just under the x-axis and it starts going under the x-axis at (-3,0).This is not the equation;I'm just trying to break down the figure myself into equations.Then comes region B which is like the equation -(x+2)^2+5 and is above the x-axis till (0,0).Then region C is like y=(x-2)^2-5 till 3.
region A is very long with respect to the y-axis, but pretty short compared with the x-axis.Regions B and c are smaller than region A with respect to the y-axis, but bigger with respect to the x-axis.
Thank you for your time.
the answer to this question is 7;I want to know how to get that.

Answer
Hi, Jeff,
Sorry, I can't make out what it looks like.  Why don't you scan it in and send the picture to me:

PXKLARREICH@AOL.COM

right away and I'll have a look.  Once I see the picture, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out what those guys at ETS are trying to test.