Jordan Curve

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2 min read Last updated Fri Aug 14 2026 03:05:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Jordan curve in the plane is a simple closed curve, a closed curve that does not intersect itself except that the initial and terminal points coincide.

Green’s Theorem

Let CC be a positively oriented, piecewise smooth Jordan curve in the plane, and let DD be the region bounded by CC. Suppose

F(x,y)=M(x,y)i^+N(x,y)j^\boldsymbol{F}(x,y) = M(x,y)\hat{i} + N(x,y)\hat{j}

is continuously differentiable on an open region containing DD. Then

CMdx+Ndy=D(NxMy)dA\oint_C M\,\text{d}x + N\,\text{d}y = \iint_D \left(\frac{\partial N}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial M}{\partial y}\right)\text{d}A

Area Formula

Taking M=y/2M = -y/2 and N=x/2N = x/2 gives

A(D)=D1dA=12CxdyydxA(D) = \iint_D 1\,\text{d}A = \frac{1}{2}\oint_C x\,\text{d}y - y\,\text{d}x

Green’s Theorem for Doubly Connected Regions

Let RR be a doubly connected region in the plane, with outer boundary C1C_1 oriented counterclockwise and inner boundary C2C_2 oriented clockwise. If C1C_1, C2C_2, and F(x,y)=M(x,y)i^+N(x,y)j^\boldsymbol{F}(x,y) = M(x,y)\hat{i} + N(x,y)\hat{j} satisfy the hypotheses of Green’s theorem, then

R(NxMy)dA=C1Mdx+Ndy+C2Mdx+Ndy\iint_R \left(\frac{\partial N}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial M}{\partial y}\right)\text{d}A = \oint_{C_1} M\,\text{d}x + N\,\text{d}y + \oint_{C_2} M\,\text{d}x + N\,\text{d}y
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