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Coordinated Multivariable Calculus

Section 3.3 Double Integrals over General Regions

Recall that we defined the double integral of a continuous function f=f(x,y) over a rectangle R=[a,b]×[c,d] as
Rf(x,y)dA=limm,nj=1ni=1mf(xij,yij)ΔA,
where the notation is as described in Section 3.1. Furthermore, we have seen that we can evaluate a double integral Rf(x,y)dA over R as an iterated integral of either of the forms
abcdf(x,y)dydx      or      cdabf(x,y)dxdy.
It is natural to wonder how we might define and evaluate a double integral over a non-rectangular region; we explore one such example in the following preview activity.

Preview Activity 3.3.1.

A tetrahedron is a three-dimensional figure with four faces, each of which is a triangle. A picture of the tetrahedron T with vertices (0,0,0), (1,0,0), (0,1,0), and (0,0,1) is shown at left in Figure 3.3.1. If we place one vertex at the origin and let vectors a, b, and c be determined by the edges of the tetrahedron that have one end at the origin, then a formula that tells us the volume V of the tetrahedron is
(3.3.1)V=16|a(b×c)|.
Figure 3.3.1. Left: The tetrahedron T. Right: Projecting T onto the xy-plane.
  1. Use the formula (3.3.1) to find the volume of the tetrahedron T.
  2. Instead of memorizing or looking up the formula for the volume of a tetrahedron, we can use a double integral to calculate the volume of the tetrahedron T. To see how, notice that the top face of the tetrahedron T is the plane whose equation is
    z=1(x+y).
    Provided that we can use an iterated integral on a non-rectangular region, the volume of the tetrahedron will be given by an iterated integral of the form
    x=?x=?y=?y=?1(x+y)dydx.
    The issue that is new here is how we find the limits on the integrals; note that the outer integral’s limits are in x, while the inner ones are in y, since we have chosen dA=dydx. To see the domain over which we need to integrate, think of standing way above the tetrahedron looking straight down on it, which means we are projecting the entire tetrahedron onto the xy-plane. The resulting domain is the triangular region shown at right in Figure 3.3.1. Explain why we can represent the triangular region with the inequalities
    0y1x    and    0x1.
    (Hint: Consider the cross sectional slice shown at right in Figure 3.3.1.)
  3. Explain why it makes sense to now write the volume integral in the form
    x=?x=?y=?y=?1(x+y)dydx=x=0x=1y=0y=1x1(x+y)dydx.
  4. Use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate the iterated integral
    x=0x=1y=0y=1x1(x+y)dydx
    and compare to your result from part (a). (As with iterated integrals over rectangular regions, start with the inner integral.)

Subsection 3.3.1 Double Integrals over General Regions

So far, we have learned that a double integral over a rectangular region may be interpreted in one of two ways:
  • Rf(x,y)dA tells us the volume of the solids the graph of f bounds above the xy-plane over the rectangle R minus the volume of the solids the graph of f bounds below the xy-plane under the rectangle R;
  • 1A(R)Rf(x,y)dA, where A(R) is the area of R tells us the average value of the function f on R. If f(x,y)0 on R, we can interpret this average value of f on R as the height of the box with base R that has the same volume as the volume of the surface defined by f over R.
As we saw in Preview Activity 3.1.1, a function f=f(x,y) may be considered over regions other than rectangular ones, and thus we want to understand how to set up and evaluate double integrals over non-rectangular regions. Note that if we can, then the two interpretations of the double integral noted above will naturally extend to solid regions with non-rectangular bases.
So, suppose f is a continuous function on a closed, bounded domain D. For example, consider D as the circular domain shown at left in Figure 3.3.2.
Figure 3.3.2. Left: A non-rectangular domain. Right: Enclosing this domain in a rectangle.
We can enclose D in a rectangular domain R as shown at right in Figure 3.3.2 and extend the function f to be defined over R in order to be able to use the definition of the double integral over a rectangle. We extend f in such a way that its values at the points in R that are not in D contribute 0 to the value of the integral. In other words, define a function F=F(x,y) on R as
F(x,y)={f(x,y), if (x,y)D,0, if (x,y)D.
We then say that the double integral of f over D is the same as the double integral of F over R, and thus
Df(x,y)dA=RF(x,y)dA.
In practice, we just ignore everything that is in R but not in D, since these regions contribute 0 to the value of the integral.
Just as with double integrals over rectangles, a double integral over a domain D can be evaluated as an iterated integral. If the region D can be described by the inequalities g1(x)yg2(x) and axb, where g1=g1(x) and g2=g2(x) are functions of only x, then
Df(x,y)dA=x=ax=by=g1(x)y=g2(x)f(x,y)dydx.
Alternatively, if the region D is described by the inequalities h1(y)xh2(y) and cyd, where h1=h1(y) and h2=h2(y) are functions of only y, we have
Df(x,y)dA=y=cy=dx=h1(y)x=h2(y)f(x,y)dxdy.
The structure of an iterated integral is of particular note:
In an iterated double integral:
  • the limits on the outer integral must be constants;
  • the limits on the inner integral must be constants or in terms of only the remaining variable — that is, if the inner integral is with respect to y, then its limits may only involve x and constants, and vice versa.
We next consider a detailed example.

Example 3.3.3.

Let f(x,y)=x2y be defined on the triangle D with vertices (0,0), (2,0), and (2,3) as shown at left in Figure 3.3.4.
Figure 3.3.4. A triangular domain and slices in the y and x directions.
To evaluate Df(x,y)dA, we must first describe the region D in terms of the variables x and y. We take two approaches.
Approach 1: Integrate first with respect to y.
In this case we choose to evaluate the double integral as an iterated integral in the form
Dx2ydA=x=ax=by=g1(x)y=g2(x)x2ydydx,
and therefore we need to describe D in terms of inequalities
g1(x)yg2(x)      and      axb.
Since we are integrating with respect to y first, the iterated integral has the form
Dx2ydA=x=ax=bA(x)dx,
where A(x) is a cross sectional area in the y direction. So we are slicing the domain perpendicular to the x-axis and want to understand what a cross sectional area of the overall solid will look like. Several slices of the domain are shown in the middle image in Figure 3.3.4. On a slice with fixed x value, the y values are bounded below by 0 and above by the y coordinate on the hypotenuse of the right triangle. Thus, g1(x)=0; to find y=g2(x), we need to write the hypotenuse as a function of x. The hypotenuse connects the points (0,0) and (2,3) and hence has equation y=32x. This gives the upper bound on y as g2(x)=32x. The leftmost vertical cross section is at x=0 and the rightmost one is at x=2, so we have a=0 and b=2. Therefore,
Dx2ydA=x=0x=2y=0y=32xx2ydydx.
We evaluate the iterated integral by applying the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus first to the inner integral, and then to the outer one, and find that
x=0x=2y=0y=32xx2ydydx=x=0x=2[x2y22]|y=0y=32xdx=x=0x=298x4dx=98x55|x=0x=2=(98)(325)=365.
Approach 2: Integrate first with respect to x.
In this case, we choose to evaluate the double integral as an iterated integral in the form
Dx2ydA=y=cy=dx=h1(y)x=h2(y)x2ydxdy
and thus need to describe D in terms of inequalities
h1(y)xh2(y)      and      cyd.
Since we are integrating with respect to x first, the iterated integral has the form
Dx2ydA=cdA(y)dy,
where A(y) is a cross sectional area of the solid in the x direction. Several slices of the domain — perpendicular to the y-axis — are shown at right in Figure 3.3.4. On a slice with fixed y value, the x values are bounded below by the x coordinate on the hypotenuse of the right triangle and above by 2. So h2(y)=2; to find h1(y), we need to write the hypotenuse as a function of y. Solving the earlier equation we have for the hypotenuse (y=32x) for x gives us x=23y. This makes h1(y)=23y. The lowest horizontal cross section is at y=0 and the uppermost one is at y=3, so we have c=0 and d=3. Therefore,
Dx2ydA=y=0y=3x=(2/3)yx=2x2ydxdy.
We evaluate the resulting iterated integral as before by twice applying the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, and find that
y=0y=3x=23y2x2ydxdy=y=0y=3[x33]|x=23yx=2ydx=y=0y=3[83y881y4]dy=[83y22881y55]|y=0y=3=(83)(92)(881)(2435)=12245=365.
We see, of course, that in the situation where D can be described in two different ways, the order in which we choose to set up and evaluate the double integral doesn’t matter, and the same value results in either case.
The meaning of a double integral over a non-rectangular region, D, parallels the meaning over a rectangular region. In particular,
  • Df(x,y)dA tells us the volume of the solids the graph of f bounds above the xy-plane over the closed, bounded region D minus the volume of the solids the graph of f bounds below the xy-plane under the region D;
  • 1A(D)Rf(x,y)dA, where A(D) is the area of D tells us the average value of the function f on D. If f(x,y)0 on D, we can interpret this average value of f on D as the height of the solid with base D and constant cross-sectional area D that has the same volume as the volume of the surface defined by f over D.

Activity 3.3.2.

Consider the double integral D(4x2y)dA, where D is the triangular region with vertices (0,0), (4,0), and (0,2).
  1. Write the given integral as an iterated integral of the form D(4x2y)dydx. Draw a labeled picture of D with relevant cross sections.
  2. Write the given integral as an iterated integral of the form D(4x2y)dxdy. Draw a labeled picture of D with relevant cross sections.
  3. Evaluate the two iterated integrals from (a) and (b), and verify that they produce the same value. Give at least one interpretation of the meaning of your result.
Answer.
  1. 040212x(4x2y)dydx
  2. 02042y(4x2y)dxdy
  3. Our integrals give the same result of 163:
    040212x(4x2y)dydx=04[4yxyy2]0212xdx=0442x+14x2dx=[4xx2+112x3]04=163
    and
    02042y(4x2y)dxdy=02[4x12x22xy]042ydy=0288y+2y2dy=[8y4y2+23y3]02=163.
    The volume underneath the function f(x,y)=4x2y and above the region R is 163.

Activity 3.3.3.

Consider the iterated integral x=0x=1y=xy=x(4x+10y)dydx.
  1. Sketch the region of integration, D, for which
    D(4x+10y)dA=x=0x=1y=xy=x(4x+10y)dydx.
  2. Determine the equivalent iterated integral that results from integrating in the opposite order (dxdy, instead of dydx). That is, determine the limits of integration for which
    D(4x+10y)dA=y=?y=?x=?x=?(4x+10y)dxdy.
  3. Evaluate one of the two iterated integrals above. Explain what the value you obtained tells you.
  4. Set up and evaluate a single definite integral to determine the exact area of D, A(D).
  5. Determine the exact average value of f(x,y)=4x+10y over D.
Answer.
  1. D(4x+10y)dA=y=0y=1x=y2x=y(4x+10y)dxdy.
  2. Evaluating gives:
    y=0y=1x=y2x=y(4x+10y)dxdy=y=0y=1[2x2+10yx]x=y2x=ydy=y=0y=112y210y32y4dy=[4y352y425y5]y=0y=1=1110
    which tells us that the volume under f(x,y)=4x+10y and above the region D is 1110.
  3. The area is
    A(D)=y=0y=1x=y2x=y1dxdy=y=0y=1[x]x=y2x=ydy=y=0y=1yy2dy=[12y213y3]y=0y=1=16.
  4. The exact average value of f(x,y)=4x+10y over D is
    1A(D)D(4x+10y)dA==111016.=335.

Activity 3.3.4.

Consider the iterated integral x=0x=4y=x/2y=2ey2dydx.
  1. Explain why we cannot find a simple antiderivative for ey2 with respect to y, and thus are unable to evaluate x=0x=4y=x/2y=2ey2dydx in the indicated order using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
  2. Given that Dey2dA=x=0x=4y=x/2y=2ey2dydx, sketch the region of integration, D.
  3. Rewrite the given iterated integral in the opposite order, using dA=dxdy. (Hint: You may need more than one integral.)
  4. Use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate the iterated integral you developed in (c). Write one sentence to explain the meaning of the value you found.
  5. What is the important lesson this activity offers regarding the order in which we set up an iterated integral?
Answer.
  1. To find an antiderivative for ey2 with respect to y, we want to view ey2 as a composition of functions so that we can use u-substitution with u=y2. However, du=2y doesn’t show up in ey2, so this substitution doesn’t work (yet).
  2. We can switch to:
    x=0x=4y=x/2y=2ey2dydx=y=0y=2x=0x=2yey2dxdy.
  3. Use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate the iterated integral you developed in (c). Write one sentence to explain the meaning of the value you found. Evaluating gives:
    y=0y=2x=0x=2yey2dxdy=y=0y=2[xey2]x=0x=2ydy=y=0y=22yey2dy=[ey2]y=0y=2=e4e0=e41
    The volume under ey2 and above the triangle with vertices at (0,0), (0,2), and (4,2) is e41.
  4. The important lesson is that an integral which looks really hard (or, indeed, is impossible) with one order of integration may be possible after changing the order of integration.

Subsection 3.3.2 Summary

  • For a double integral Df(x,y)dA over a non-rectangular region D, we enclose D in a rectangle R and then extend integrand f to a function F so that F(x,y)=0 at all points in R outside of D and F(x,y)=f(x,y) for all points in D. We then define Df(x,y)dA to be equal to RF(x,y)dA.
  • In an iterated double integral, the limits on the outer integral must be constants while the limits on the inner integral must be constants or in terms of only the remaining variable. In other words, an iterated double integral has one of the following forms (which result in the same value):
    x=ax=by=g1(x)y=g2(x)f(x,y)dydx,
    where g1=g1(x) and g2=g2(x) are functions of x only and the region D is described by the inequalities g1(x)yg2(x) and axb or
    y=cy=dx=h1(y)x=h2(y)f(x,y)dxdy,
    where h1=h1(y) and h2=h2(y) are functions of y only and the region D is described by the inequalities h1(y)xh2(y) and cyd.

Exercises 3.3.3 Exercises

1.

Evaluate the double integral I=DxydA where D is the triangular region with vertices (0,0),(4,0),(0,2).

2.

Evaluate the double integral I=DxydA where D is the triangular region with vertices (0,0),(5,0),(0,6).

3.

Evaluate the integral by reversing the order of integration.
018y8ex2dxdy=

4.

Decide, without calculation, if each of the integrals below are positive, negative, or zero. Let D be the region inside the unit circle centered at the origin. Let T, B, R, and L denote the regions enclosed by the top half, the bottom half, the right half, and the left half of unit circle, respectively.
  1. L(y3+y5)dA
  2. D(y3+y5)dA
  3. B(y3+y5)dA
  4. R(y3+y5)dA
  5. T(y3+y5)dA

5.

The region W lies below the surface f(x,y)=5e(x1)2y2 and above the disk x2+y24 in the xy-plane.
(a) Think about what the contours of f look like. You may want to using f(x,y)=1 as an example. Sketch a rough contour diagram on a separate sheet of paper.
(b) Write an integral giving the area of the cross-section of W in the plane x=1.
Area = ab d,
where a= and b=
(c) Use your work from (b) to write an iterated double integral giving the volume of W, using the work from (b) to inform the construction of the inside integral.
Volume = abcd d d,
where a= , b= c= and d=

6.

Set up a double integral in rectangular coordinates for calculating the volume of the solid under the graph of the function f(x,y)=15x2y2 and above the plane z=6.
Instructions: Please enter the integrand in the first answer box. Depending on the order of integration you choose, enter dx and dy in either order into the second and third answer boxes with only one dx or dy in each box. Then, enter the limits of integration.
ABCD
A =
B =
C =
D =

7.

Find the volume of the solid bounded by the planes x = 0, y = 0, z = 0, and x + y + z = 3.

8.

Consider the integral 04016yf(x,y)dxdy. If we change the order of integration we obtain the sum of two integrals:
abg1(x)g2(x)f(x,y)dydx+cdg3(x)g4(x)f(x,y)dydx
a= b=
g1(x)= g2(x)=
c= d=
g3(x)= g4(x)=

9.

A pile of earth standing on flat ground has height 16 meters. The ground is the xy-plane. The origin is directly below the top of the pile and the z-axis is upward. The cross-section at height z is given by x2+y2=16z for 0z16, with x,y, and z in meters.
(a) What equation gives the edge of the base of the pile?
  • x2+y2=4
  • x+y=16
  • x2+y2=16
  • x+y=4
  • None of the above
(b) What is the area of the base of the pile?
(c) What equation gives the cross-section of the pile with the plane z=4?
  • x2+y2=16
  • x2+y2=12
  • x2+y2=12
  • x2+y2=4
  • None of the above
(d) What is the area of the cross-section z=4 of the pile?
(e) What is A(z), the area of a horizontal cross-section at height z?
A(z)= square meters
(f) Use your answer in part (e) to find the volume of the pile.
Volume = cubic meters

10.

Match the following integrals with the verbal descriptions of the solids whose volumes they give. Put the letter of the verbal description to the left of the corresponding integral.
  1. 111x21x21x2y2dydx
  2. 01y2y4x2+3y2dxdy
  3. 2244+4x24x+3ydydx
  4. 01301213y214x23y2dxdy
  5. 02224y2dydx
  1. Solid under a plane and over one half of a circular disk.
  2. One half of a cylindrical rod.
  3. Solid bounded by a circular paraboloid and a plane.
  4. One eighth of an ellipsoid.
  5. Solid under an elliptic paraboloid and over a planar region bounded by two parabolas.

11.

For each of the following iterated integrals,
  • sketch the region of integration,
  • write an equivalent iterated integral expression in the opposite order of integration,
  • choose one of the two orders and evaluate the integral.
  1. x=0x=1y=x2y=xxydydx
  2. y=0y=2x=4y2x=0xydxdy
  3. x=0x=1y=x4y=x1/4x+ydydx
  4. y=0y=2x=y/2x=2yx+ydxdy

12.

The temperature at any point on a metal plate in the xy-plane is given by T(x,y)=1004x2y2, where x and y are measured in inches and T in degrees Celsius. Consider the portion of the plate that lies on the region D that is the finite region that lies between the parabolas x=y2 and x=32y2.
  1. Construct a labeled sketch of the region D.
  2. Set up an iterated integral whose value is DT(x,y)dA, using dA=dxdy. (Hint: It is possible that more than one integral is needed.)
  3. Set up an integrated integral whose value is DT(x,y)dA, using dA=dydx. (Hint: It is possible that more than one integral is needed.)
  4. Use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate the integrals you determined in (b) and (c).
  5. Determine the exact average temperature, TAVG(D), over the region D.

13.

Consider the solid that is given by the following description: the base is the given region D, while the top is given by the surface z=p(x,y). In each setting below, set up, but do not evaluate, an iterated integral whose value is the exact volume of the solid. Include a labeled sketch of D in each case.
  1. D is the interior of the quarter circle of radius 2, centered at the origin, that lies in the second quadrant of the plane; p(x,y)=16x2y2.
  2. D is the finite region between the line y=x+1 and the parabola y=x2; p(x,y)=10x2y.
  3. D is the triangular region with vertices (1,1), (2,2), and (2,3); p(x,y)=exy.
  4. D is the region bounded by the y-axis, y=4 and x=y; p(x,y)=1+x2+y2.

14.

Consider the iterated integral I=x=0x=4y=xy=2cos(y3)dydx.
  1. Sketch the region of integration.
  2. Write an equivalent iterated integral with the order of integration reversed.
  3. Choose one of the two orders of integration and evaluate the iterated integral you chose by hand. Explain the reasoning behind your choice.
  4. Determine the exact average value of cos(y3) over the region D that is determined by the iterated integral I.