Topic 15

Double Integrals & Order of Integration

A double integral ∬Rf dA\iint_R f\,dA is computed as an . The inner limits may be curves; the outer limits are always numbers. The real work is reading the region. So sketch it first, then pick the order that keeps it in one piece or makes the inner integral doable.

5 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.

1

Evaluate a double integral over a region bounded by curves

e.g. “Evaluate ∬Rf dA\iint_R f\,dA where RR is the finite region bounded by the curves … and …”
  1. 1
    Sketch the region and find where the curves meet
  2. 2
    Choose the order: dy dxdy\,dx or dx dydx\,dy

    dy dxdy\,dx if one curve is always on top and one on the bottom; dx dydx\,dy if one is always on the left and one on the right.

  3. 3
    Write the limits: curves inside, numbers outside
  4. 4
    Integrate the inner integral, holding the outer variable fixed
  5. 5
    Integrate the outer integral

Remember: Sketch, slice, inside out.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Evaluate ∬R6xy2 dA\iint_R 6xy^2\,dA where RR is the rectangle 0≤x≤20 \le x \le 2, 1≤y≤31 \le y \le 3.

  1. 1
    Sketch the region and find where the curves meet

    A rectangle: no curves to intersect.

  2. 2
    Choose the order: dy dxdy\,dx or dx dydx\,dy

    Either order works; use dy dxdy\,dx.

  3. 3
    Write the limits: curves inside, numbers outside

    ∫02∫136xy2 dy dx\displaystyle\int_0^2\int_1^3 6xy^2\,dy\,dx.

  4. 4
    Integrate the inner integral, holding the outer variable fixed

    ∫136xy2 dy=2xy3∣13=52x\displaystyle\int_1^3 6xy^2\,dy = 2xy^3\Big|_1^3 = 52x.

  5. 5
    Integrate the outer integral

    ∫0252x dx=26x2∣02=104\displaystyle\int_0^2 52x\,dx = 26x^2\Big|_0^2 = 104.

Answer:

104104

Common mistakes3
  • A number in the inner limits that should be a curve, or xx left in the outer limits.
  • Picking the order that splits the region in two when the other order would not.
  • Forgetting the outer variable is a constant inside: ∫y dx=xy\displaystyle\int y\,dx = xy.
2

Reverse the order of integration to evaluate a double integral

e.g. “The inner integrand is ex2e^{x^2}, sin⁡(y2)\sin(y^2), cos⁡(x3)\cos(x^3), 1+y3\sqrt{1 + y^3}, … (no elementary antiderivative)”
  1. 1
    Read the region from the limits and sketch it

    ∫y=cd∫x=g(y)h(y)\displaystyle\int_{y = c}^{d}\int_{x = g(y)}^{h(y)} means c≤y≤dc \le y \le d and g(y)≤x≤h(y)g(y) \le x \le h(y).

  2. 2
    Find the constant range of the new outer variable
  3. 3
    Find the new inner limits as curves

    Solve each boundary curve for the other variable.

  4. 4
    Integrate the new inner integral

    Usually the hard does not involve the new inner variable. So it just gets multiplied by the length of the slice.

  5. 5
    Finish the outer integral

    Often a uu-substitution, with uu the inside of the hard function.

Remember: Can't integrate it? Flip the order.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Evaluate ∫03∫y/31ex2 dx dy\displaystyle\int_0^3\int_{y/3}^{1} e^{x^2}\,dx\,dy.

  1. 1
    Read the region from the limits and sketch it

    0≤y≤30 \le y \le 3, y3≤x≤1\tfrac{y}{3} \le x \le 1: the triangle with vertices (0,0)(0, 0), (1,0)(1, 0), (1,3)(1, 3).

  2. 2
    Find the constant range of the new outer variable

    0≤x≤10 \le x \le 1.

  3. 3
    Find the new inner limits as curves

    x=y3x = \tfrac{y}{3} is y=3xy = 3x, so 0≤y≤3x0 \le y \le 3x: ∫01∫03xex2 dy dx\displaystyle\int_0^1\int_0^{3x} e^{x^2}\,dy\,dx.

  4. 4
    Integrate the new inner integral

    ∫03xex2 dy=3xex2\displaystyle\int_0^{3x} e^{x^2}\,dy = 3xe^{x^2}.

  5. 5
    Finish the outer integral

    ∫013xex2 dx=32ex2∣01=32(e−1)\displaystyle\int_0^1 3xe^{x^2}\,dx = \tfrac32 e^{x^2}\Big|_0^1 = \tfrac32(e - 1).

Answer:

32(e−1)\tfrac32(e - 1)

Common mistakes3
  • Swapping the limits without redrawing the region. The new limits are almost never the old ones swapped.
  • Turning x=yx = \sqrt{y} into y=xy = \sqrt{x} instead of y=x2y = x^2.
  • Trying integration by parts on ex2e^{x^2}. It has no . That is the signal to reverse.
3

Reverse the order of integration to combine or split iterated integrals

e.g. “Combine the sum of the two iterated integrals into a single iterated integral with the order of integration reversed”
  1. 1
    Sketch the region of each piece from its limits
  2. 2
    Join the pieces into one region

    They share a boundary line, such as y=1y = 1. Name every boundary curve.

  3. 3
    Find the constant range of the new outer variable
  4. 4
    Write the new inner limits as curves, low to high

    Bottom to top for dy dxdy\,dx, left to right for dx dydx\,dy. If either curve changes partway, split into two integrals there.

Remember: Draw all the pieces, then slice the other way.

See it in a problem2 worked examples

Write ∫01∫02yf dx dy+∫13∫03−yf dx dy\displaystyle\int_0^1\int_0^{2y} f\,dx\,dy + \int_1^3\int_0^{3 - y} f\,dx\,dy as a single integral in the order dy dxdy\,dx.

  1. 1
    Sketch the region of each piece from its limits

    Piece 1: 0≤y≤10 \le y \le 1, 0≤x≤2y0 \le x \le 2y. Piece 2: 1≤y≤31 \le y \le 3, 0≤x≤3−y0 \le x \le 3 - y.

  2. 2
    Join the pieces into one region

    They meet along y=1y = 1 for 0≤x≤20 \le x \le 2. Together: the triangle with vertices (0,0)(0, 0), (2,1)(2, 1), (0,3)(0, 3).

  3. 3
    Find the constant range of the new outer variable

    0≤x≤20 \le x \le 2.

  4. 4
    Write the new inner limits as curves, low to high

    Bottom x=2yx = 2y, so y=x2y = \tfrac{x}{2}; top x=3−yx = 3 - y, so y=3−xy = 3 - x. Area check with f=1f = 1: 1+2=31 + 2 = 3 both ways.

Answer:

∫02∫x/23−xf dy dx\displaystyle\int_0^2\int_{x/2}^{3 - x} f\,dy\,dx

Common mistakes3
  • Writing one integral when an inner-limit curve changes partway: then it must be a sum.
  • Leaving numbers in the inner limits.
  • Skipping the check with f=1f = 1. Both forms must give the same area.
4

Find the volume of a solid using a double integral

e.g. “Find the volume of the solid bounded above by the surface …, below by the plane z=0z = 0 and over the triangle …”
  1. 1
    Find the base region DD in the xyxy-plane

    It is the solid's shadow. Look for where the top meets the bottom, or for side walls.

  2. 2
    Find the height: top surface minus bottom surface
  3. 3
    Set up V=∬D(top−bottom) dAV = \iint_D (\text{top} - \text{bottom})\,dA
  4. 4
    Evaluate the iterated integral

Remember: Volume is height integrated over the shadow.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Find the volume of the solid in the under the plane x+2y+z=4x + 2y + z = 4.

  1. 1
    Find the base region DD in the xyxy-plane

    The plane meets z=0z = 0 along x+2y=4x + 2y = 4: base triangle x,y≥0x, y \ge 0, x+2y≤4x + 2y \le 4.

  2. 2
    Find the height: top surface minus bottom surface

    Height 4−x−2y4 - x - 2y (bottom z=0z = 0).

  3. 3
    Set up V=∬D(top−bottom) dAV = \iint_D (\text{top} - \text{bottom})\,dA

    V=∫04∫0(4−x)/2(4−x−2y) dy dxV = \displaystyle\int_0^4\int_0^{(4 - x)/2} (4 - x - 2y)\,dy\,dx.

  4. 4
    Evaluate the iterated integral

    Inner: (4−x)y−y2∣0(4−x)/2=(4−x)24(4 - x)y - y^2\Big|_0^{(4 - x)/2} = \dfrac{(4 - x)^2}{4}. Outer: ∫04(4−x)24 dx=163\displaystyle\int_0^4 \dfrac{(4 - x)^2}{4}\,dx = \dfrac{16}{3}.

Answer:

V=163V = \dfrac{16}{3}

Common mistakes2
  • Integrating the top surface alone when the bottom is not z=0z = 0.
  • Using too big a base: the base is only where the top is above the bottom.
5

Evaluate a double integral as an area or volume without integrating

e.g. “Evaluate the given double integral without using iteration. Instead, interpret the integral as an area or a volume”
  1. 1
    Sketch the region from the limits
  2. 2
    Identify the solid: the integrand is its height

    Integrand 11: the integral is the area of RR.  a2−x2−y2\ \sqrt{a^2 - x^2 - y^2}: part of a sphere of radius aa.

  3. 3
    Use an area or volume formula

Remember: Name the shape, then use its formula.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Evaluate ∫04∫−12dx dy\displaystyle\int_0^4\int_{-1}^{2} dx\,dy without iterating.

  1. 1
    Sketch the region from the limits

    −1≤x≤2-1 \le x \le 2, 0≤y≤40 \le y \le 4: a 3×43 \times 4 rectangle.

  2. 2
    Identify the solid: the integrand is its height

    Integrand 11: the area of the rectangle.

  3. 3
    Use an area or volume formula

    3×4=123 \times 4 = 12.

Answer:

1212

Common mistakes2
  • Reading the region from the wrong limits: the inner limits bound the inner variable.
  • Using the whole ball 43πa3\tfrac43\pi a^3 when the region covers only half or a quarter of it.

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