14 Multiple Integration

14.3 Double Integration with Polar Coordinates

We have used iterated integrals to evaluate double integrals, which give the signed volume under a surface, z=f(x,y), over a region R of the x-y plane. The integrand is simply f(x,y), and the bounds of the integrals are determined by the region R.

Some regions R are easy to describe using rectangular coordinates — that is, with equations of the form y=f(x), x=a, etc. However, some regions are easier to handle if we represent their boundaries with polar equations of the form r=f(θ), θ=α, etc.

The basic form of the double integral is Rf(x,y)dA. We interpret this integral as follows: over the region R, sum up lots of products of heights (given by f(xi,yi)) and areas (given by ΔAi). That is, dA represents “a little bit of area.” In rectangular coordinates, we can describe a small rectangle as having area dxdy or dydx — the area of a rectangle is simply length×width — a small change in x times a small change in y. Thus we replace dA in the double integral with dxdy or dydx.

margin: 0.510.510π/2 (a)r1r2Δθ (b) Figure 14.3.1: Approximating a region R with portions of sectors of circles. Λ

Now consider representing a region R with polar coordinates. Consider Figure 14.3.1(a). Let R be the region in the first quadrant bounded by the curve. We can approximate this region using the natural shape of polar coordinates: portions of sectors of circles. In the figure, one such region is shaded, shown again in part (b) of the figure.

As the area of a sector of a circle with radius r, subtended by an angle θ, is A=12r2θ, we can find the area of the shaded region. The whole sector has area 12r22Δθ, whereas the smaller, unshaded sector has area 12r12Δθ. The area of the shaded region is the difference of these areas:

ΔAi=12r22Δθ-12r12Δθ=12(r22-r12)(Δθ)=r2+r12(r2-r1)Δθ.

Note that (r2+r1)/2 is just the average of the two radii.

To approximate the region R, we use many such subregions; doing so shrinks the difference r2-r1 between radii to 0 and shrinks the change in angle Δθ also to 0. We represent these infinitesimal changes in radius and angle as dr and dθ, respectively. Finally, as dr is small, r2r1, and so (r2+r1)/2r1. Thus, when dr and dθ are small,

ΔAiridrdθ.

Taking a limit, where the number of subregions goes to infinity and both r2-r1 and Δθ go to 0, we get

dA=rdrdθ.

So to evaluate Rf(x,y)dA, replace dA with rdrdθ. Convert the function z=f(x,y) to a function with polar coordinates with the substitutions x=rcosθ, y=rsinθ. Finally, find bounds g1(θ)rg2(θ) and αθβ that describe R. This is the key principle of this section, so we restate it here as a Key Idea.

Key Idea 14.3.1 Evaluating Double Integrals with Polar Coordinates

Let R be a plane region bounded by the polar equations αθβ and g1(θ)rg2(θ). Then

Rf(x,y)dA=αβg1(θ)g2(θ)f(rcosθ,rsinθ)rdrdθ.

Examples will help us understand this Key Idea.

Example 14.3.1 Evaluating a double integral with polar coordinates

Find the signed volume under the plane z=4-x-2y over the disk with equation x2+y21.

Solutionmargin:
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Figure 14.3.2: Evaluating a double integral with polar coordinates in Example 14.3.1. Λ
The bounds of the integral are determined solely by the region R over which we are integrating. The surface and boundary of the region are shown in Figure 14.3.2. In this case the boundary of the region is the circle with equation x2+y2=1. We need to find polar bounds for this region. It may help to review Section 10.4; bounds for this circle are 0r1 and 0θ2π.

We replace f(x,y) with f(rcosθ,rsinθ). That means we make the following substitutions:

4-x-2y4-rcosθ-2rsinθ.

Finally, we replace dA in the double integral with rdrdθ. This gives the final iterated integral, which we evaluate:

Rf(x,y)dA =02π01(4-rcosθ-2rsinθ)rdrdθ
=02π01(4r-r2(cosθ-2sinθ))drdθ
=02π(2r2-13r3(cosθ-2sinθ))|01dθ
=02π(2-13(cosθ-2sinθ))dθ
=(2θ-13(sinθ+2cosθ))|02π
=4π.
margin: 2134-2-112xy (a)
(fullscreen)
(b)
Figure 14.3.3: Showing the region R and surface used in Example 14.3.2. Λ
Example 14.3.2 Evaluating a double integral with polar coordinates

Find the volume under the paraboloid z=4-(x-2)2-y2 over the region bounded by the circles (x-1)2+y2=1 and (x-2)2+y2=4.

SolutionAt first glance, this seems like a very hard volume to compute as the region R (shown in Figure 14.3.3(a)) has a hole in it, cutting out a strange portion of the surface, as shown in part (b) of the figure. However, by describing R in terms of polar equations, the volume is not very difficult to compute. We can use techniques from Section 10.4 to show that the circle (x-1)2+y2=1 has polar equation r=2cosθ, and that the circle (x-2)2+y2=4 has polar equation r=4cosθ. Each of these circles is traced out on the interval 0θπ. The bounds on r are 2cosθr4cosθ.

Replacing x with rcosθ in the integrand, along with replacing y with rsinθ, prepares us to evaluate the double integral Rf(x,y)dA:

Rf(x,y)dA =0π2cosθ4cosθ(4-(rcosθ-2)2-(rsinθ)2)rdrdθ
=0π2cosθ4cosθ(-r3+4r2cosθ)drdθ
=0π(-14r4+43r3cosθ)|2cosθ4cosθdθ
=0π([-14(256cos4θ)+43(64cos4θ)]-
[-14(16cos4θ)+43(8cos4θ)])dθ
=0π443cos4θdθ.

To integrate cos4θ, rewrite it as cos2θcos2θ and employ the half-angle formula twice:

cos4θ =cos2θcos2θ
=12(1+cos(2θ))12(1+cos(2θ))
=14(1+2cos(2θ)+cos2(2θ))
=14(1+2cos(2θ)+12(1+cos(4θ)))
=38+12cos(2θ)+18cos(4θ).

Picking up from where we left off above, we have

Rf(x,y)dA =0π443cos4θdθ
=0π443(38+12cos(2θ)+18cos(4θ))dθ
=443(38θ+14sin(2θ)+132sin(4θ))|0π
=112π.

While this example was not trivial, the double integral would have been much harder to evaluate had we used rectangular coordinates.

Example 14.3.3 Evaluating a double integral with polar coordinates

Find the volume under the surface f(x,y)=1x2+y2+1 over the sector of the circle with radius a centered at the origin in the first quadrant, as shown in Figure 14.3.4.

Solutionmargin:
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Figure 14.3.4: The surface and region R used in Example 14.3.3. Λ
The region R we are integrating over is a circle with radius a, restricted to the first quadrant. Thus, in polar, the bounds on R are 0ra, 0θπ/2. The integrand is rewritten in polar as

1x2+y2+11r2cos2θ+r2sin2θ+1=1r2+1.

We find the volume as follows:

Rf(x,y)dA =0π/20arr2+1drdθ
=0π/212(ln|r2+1|)|0adθ
=0π/212ln(a2+1)dθ
=(12ln(a2+1)θ)|0π/2
=π4ln(a2+1).

Figure 14.3.4 shows that f shrinks to near 0 very quickly. Regardless, as a grows, so does the volume, without bound. margin: Note: Previous work has shown that there is finite area under 1x2+1 over the entire x-axis. However, Example 14.3.3 shows that there is infinite volume under 1x2+y2+1 over the entire x-y plane. Λ

Example 14.3.4 Finding the volume of a sphere

Find the volume of a sphere with radius a.

SolutionThe sphere of radius a, centered at the origin, has equation x2+y2+z2=a2; solving for z, we have z=a2-x2-y2. This gives the upper half of a sphere. We wish to find the volume under this top half, then double it to find the total volume.

The region we need to integrate over is the circle of radius a, centered at the origin. Polar bounds for this equation are 0ra, 0θ2π.

All together, the volume of a sphere with radius a is:

2Ra2-x2-y2dA =202π0aa2-(rcosθ)2-(rsinθ)2rdrdθ
=202π0ara2-r2drdθ.
We can evaluate this inner integral with substitution. With u=a2-r2, du=-2rdr. The new bounds of integration are u(0)=a2 to u(a)=0. Thus we have:
=02πa20(-u1/2)dudθ
=02π(-23u3/2)|a20dθ
=02π(23a3)dθ
=(23a3θ)|02π
=43πa3.

Generally, the formula for the volume of a sphere with radius r is given as 4/3πr3; we have justified this formula with our calculation.

margin:
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Figure 14.3.5: Visualizing the solid used in Example 14.3.5. Λ
Example 14.3.5 Finding the volume of a solid

A sculptor wants to make a solid bronze cast of the solid shown in Figure 14.3.5, where the base of the solid has boundary, in polar coordinates, r=cos(3θ), and the top is defined by the plane z=1-x+0.1y. Find the volume of the solid.

SolutionFrom the outset, we should recognize that knowing how to set up this problem is probably more important than knowing how to compute the integrals. The iterated integral to come is not “hard” to evaluate, though it is long, requiring lots of algebra. Once the proper iterated integral is determined, one can use readily-available technology to help compute the final answer.

The region R that we are integrating over is bound by 0rcos(3θ), for 0θπ (note that this rose curve is traced out on the interval [0,π], not [0,2π]). This gives us our bounds of integration. The integrand is z=1-x+0.1y; converting to polar, we have that the volume V is:

V=Rf(x,y)dA=0π0cos(3θ)(1-rcosθ+0.1rsinθ)rdrdθ.

Distributing the r, the inner integral is easy to evaluate, leading to

0π(12cos2(3θ)-13cos3(3θ)cosθ+0.13cos3(3θ)sinθ)dθ.

This integral takes time to compute by hand; it is rather long and cumbersome. The powers of cosine need to be reduced, and products like cos(3θ)cosθ need to be turned to sums using the Product To Sum formulas in the back cover of this text.

We rewrite 12cos2(3θ) as 14(1+cos(6θ)). We can also rewrite the second term as:

13cos3(3θ)cosθ=13cos2(3θ)cos(3θ)cosθ=131+cos(6θ)2(cos(4θ)+cos(2θ)).

This last expression still needs simplification, but eventually all terms can be reduced to the form acos(mθ) or asin(mθ) for various values of a and m.

We forgo the algebra and recommend the reader employ technology, such as WolframAlpha®, to compute the numeric answer. Such technology gives:

0π0cos(3θ)(1-rcosθ+0.1rsinθ)rdrdθ=π4 units3.

Since the units were not specified, we leave the result as almost 0.8 cubic units (meters, feet, etc.).

We have used iterated integrals to find areas of plane regions and volumes under surfaces. Just as a single integral can be used to compute much more than “area under the curve,” iterated integrals can be used to compute much more than we have thus far seen. The next two sections show two, among many, applications of iterated integrals.

Exercises 14.3

 

Terms and Concepts

  1. 1.

    When evaluating Rf(x,y)dA using polar coordinates, f(x,y) is replaced with              and dA is replaced with             .

  2. 2.

    Why would one be interested in evaluating a double integral with polar coordinates?

Problems

In Exercises 3–10., a function f(x,y) is given and a region R of the x-y plane is described. Set up and evaluate Rf(x,y)dA using polar coordinates.

  1. 3.

    f(x,y)=3x-y+4; R is the region enclosed by the circle x2+y2=1.

  2. 4.

    f(x,y)=4x+4y; R is the region enclosed by the circle x2+y2=4.

  3. 5.

    f(x,y)=8-y; R is the region enclosed by the circles with polar equations r=cosθ and r=3cosθ.

  4. 6.

    f(x,y)=4; R is the region enclosed by the petal of the rose curve r=sin(2θ) in the first quadrant.

  5. 7.

    f(x,y)=ln(x2+y2); R is the annulus enclosed by the circles x2+y2=1 and x2+y2=4.

  6. 8.

    f(x,y)=1-x2-y2; R is the region enclosed by the circle x2+y2=1.

  7. 9.

    f(x,y)=x2-y2; R is the region enclosed by the circle x2+y2=36 in the first and fourth quadrants.

  8. 10.

    f(x,y)=(x-y)/(x+y); R is the region enclosed by the lines y=x, y=0 and the circle x2+y2=1 in the first quadrant.

In Exercises 11–14., an iterated integral in rectangular coordinates is given. Rewrite the integral using polar coordinates and evaluate the new double integral.

  1. 11.

    05-25-x225-x2x2+y2dydx

  2. 12.

    -44-16-y20(2y-x)dxdy

  3. 13.

    02y8-y2(x+y)dxdy

  4. 14.
    -2-104-x2(x+5)dydx+-111-x24-x2(x+5)dydx+1204-x2(x+5)dydx Hint: draw the region of each integral carefully and see how they all connect.

In Exercises 15–16., special double integrals are presented that are especially well suited for evaluation in polar coordinates.

  1. 15.
    Consider Re-(x2+y2)dA. (a) Why is this integral difficult to evaluate in rectangular coordinates, regardless of the region R? (b) Let R be the region bounded by the circle of radius a centered at the origin. Evaluate the double integral using polar coordinates. (c) Take the limit of your answer from (b), as a. What does this imply about the volume under the surface of e-(x2+y2) over the entire x-y plane? (d) Use your answer to (c) to argue that -e-t2dt=π.
  2. 16.

    The surface of a right circular cone with height h and base radius a can be described by the equation f(x,y)=h-hx2a2+y2a2, where the tip of the cone lies at (0,0,h) and the circular base lies in the x-y plane, centered at the origin.

    Confirm that the volume of a right circular cone with height h and base radius a is V=13πa2h by evaluating Rf(x,y)dA in polar coordinates.

  1. 17.

    Use a double integral and polar coordinates to find the area of the region which lies inside the circle r=32 and to the right of the line 4rcosθ=3.

  2. 18.

    Use a double integral and polar coordinates to find the area of the region that lies inside the circle r=3cosθ and outside the circle r=cosθ. Check your answer using geometry.

  3. 19.

    Evaluate R1xdA where R is the region that lies inside the circle x2+y2=1 and to the right of the parabola 2x+y2=1.

  4. 20.

    Evaluate R(1+x2+y2)-3/2dA where R is that part of the disk x2+y21 in the first quadrant.

  5. 21.

    Let R be the annular region a2x2+y21. Find the average distance of points in R to the origin. What is the limit of the average distance as a0? As a1?

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