Centroid of a plane area

( x , y )

Coordinates of centroid: C

Example 1.
y
y
L

y
L

The center of the circular hole lies

on the diagonal of the square plate.

1
1
x < Ly < L
2
2

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For any plane triangles the intersection of the medians is the location of the centroid.

y
h

( 13 b , 13 h)

h
0

y
h
C

( 13 b , 23 h)

h
0

Example 1:

y
6
1
x = ( 9 ) =3
3

1
y = ( 6 )=2
3

Example 2:
irafajardomarch2015

y
6
2
x = ( 9 ) =6
3

1
y = ( 6 )=2
3

r
0

The semicircular area shown is symmetrical on the y-axis, thus

y =

4
r.
3

It is less than 0.5r.

4
4
0

8
Example 3:
The semicircle is symmetric
with respect to the origin, thus
x =4.

x =0.

Page 2 of 10

y =

4
16
( 4 )=
1.7
3
3

Example 4:

The semicircle is symmetric

with respect to the line x=4 , thus

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x =4.

y =4

4
( 4)
3

Or

16
3

4 ( 3 4 )
3

2.3

or (

Formulas:

x =

A 1 x 1 + A 2 x 2 +
A y + A y +
y = 1 1 2 2
A 1 + A 2 +
A 1+ A 2 +

Example 1:

6
A1
3
A2
0

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A1 =

1
2

(9)(3) = 13.5,

A2 = (9)(3) = 27

At = A1 +A2 = 40.5
x =

A 1 x 1 + A 2 x 2 +
A 1 + A 2 +

13.5
x =

[ ( ) ] [ ( )]
1
1
9 +27
9
3
2
40.5

=4

] [ ]

1
1
13.5 3+ ( 63 ) +27 ( 3 )
3
2
y =
40.5

Example 2: The figure shows a square plate with a semicircle cut out.

A1 = 42 = 16
1 2 1 2
A2= 2 r = 2 2 =2 ,

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irafajardomarch2015

4
A2

4
r
3

At = A1 A2 = 162

A1

The figure is symmetric with

respect to x = 4, thus x =2 .

4
r
3

A y + A y +
y = 1 1 2 2
=
A 1+ A 2+

For a vertical element

5612
1.26
3 ( 8 )

[ 162 ] 2 4 4 2

162

) =

( 11 2 , 5612
3 ( 8 ) )

Centroid of a plane area: Rectangular Coordinates

b

x c dA
=
a

y c dA
a

For a horizontal element

00

xx
x

0
x
0

x
0

x
0

h
y

Example 1.

Find the coordinates of the centroid of the triangle shown.

dx

b
x
0

A x = x cdA
a

xydx
0

h
( bx ) dx
b

x
0

h
b

(bx)dx x 2 dx
0

h 1
1

b ( x 2 ) ( x3 )
b 2
3

b
0

h 1
1
b ( b 202 ) b ( b 303 )
b 2
3

h 1 3 1 3
( b ) ( b )
b 2
3

h 1 3
(b )
b 6

[ ]

[ ]
1 2
(b )
6

1
A= bh
and area of a triangle is
2

1
1 2
bhx = b h
2
6
1
x = b
3

A y = y cdA
a

1
yydx
2
b

1
y 2 dx
20
b

1
h
( bx ) dx and by using power formula,

20 b

1 h2 1
3
( bx )
2
2 b
3

1 h2
3
[
( bx ) ]
2
6 b
0

1 h2
3
3
[
( bb ) ( b0 ) ]
2
6 b

1 h2
[ ( 0 )3( b ) 3 ]
6 b2

1 h2 ( 3 )
b
6 b2

( )[

( )

( )
( )
( )

1
1
( b h 2)
A= bh
6 h
2
y and area of a triangle is
1
1
bhy = b h
2
6

dx

( 13 b , 13 h)
b

x
0

1
y = h
3

Example 2.

Find the coordinates of the centroid of the

semi-circularPage 9 of 10
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area shown.

-r

dx
b

A y = x cdA
a

1
y ydx
2
r

1
y 2 dx
2 r

1 ( 2 2)
r x dx
2 r

[
r

r dx ( x 2 ) dx
2

1 2
1
r ( x ) ( x3 )
2
3

The semicircle is symmetrical with respect

to the y-axis, so x =0 .

1 2
1
r [ r(r ) ] [ r 3(r )3 ]
2
3

1 2
1
r ( 2 r ) [ r 3 +r 3 ]
2
3

1
2
2 r 3 [ r 3 ]
2
3

1 4
r
2 3

{
{

( )

2
1
r3
A= r 2
and area of a semi-circle is
3
2
1 2
2
r y = r 3
2
3
1
2
4
y = r y =
r
2
3
3