Topic 18

Triple Integrals

A triple integral ∭Ef dV\iiint_E f\,dV adds up ff over a solid: with f=1f = 1 it is the volume, with a density it is the mass. The work is all in the limits. The inner variable runs between two surfaces. The outer two describe the solid's in a coordinate plane.

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

1

Set up and evaluate a triple integral over a solid

e.g. “Evaluate ∭Ef dV\iiint_E f\,dV, where EE is the region bounded by …”
  1. 1
    Find the bottom and top surfaces: zz from g1(x,y)g_1(x, y) to g2(x,y)g_2(x, y)

    Any variable that sits between exactly two surfaces can go innermost; it need not be zz.

  2. 2
    Find the shadow DD the solid casts

    Its edge comes from where top and bottom meet: set them equal. It also comes from walls that stand straight up, like y=4−x2y = 4 - x^2 or x=0x = 0.

  3. 3
    Write limits for DD, as in a double integral

    Middle limits may depend on the outer variable; outer limits are numbers.

  4. 4
    Integrate from the inside out

Remember: Surfaces inside, shadow outside.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Evaluate ∭Bxy2z dV\displaystyle\iiint_B xy^2z\,dV, where BB is the box 0≤x≤20 \le x \le 2, 0≤y≤10 \le y \le 1, 0≤z≤30 \le z \le 3.

  1. 1
    Find the bottom and top surfaces: zz from g1(x,y)g_1(x, y) to g2(x,y)g_2(x, y)

    0≤z≤30 \le z \le 3.

  2. 2
    Find the shadow DD the solid casts

    The shadow is the rectangle 0≤x≤20 \le x \le 2, 0≤y≤10 \le y \le 1.

  3. 3
    Write limits for DD, as in a double integral

    0≤y≤10 \le y \le 1, 0≤x≤20 \le x \le 2: all numbers. And xy2z=x⋅y2⋅zxy^2z = x \cdot y^2 \cdot z, so the integral splits into three.

  4. 4
    Integrate from the inside out

    ∫02x dx⋅∫01y2 dy⋅∫03z dz=2⋅13⋅92=3\displaystyle\int_0^2 x\,dx \cdot \int_0^1 y^2\,dy \cdot \int_0^3 z\,dz = 2 \cdot \tfrac{1}{3} \cdot \tfrac{9}{2} = 3.

Answer:

33

Common mistakes3
  • Putting a variable in the outer limits. Those are numbers; an inner limit may use only the variables outside it.
  • Mixing up which surface is on top: test a point inside the shadow.
  • Using the wrong curve for the shadow's edge. Look down on the solid: the edge is where top meets bottom, or a wall.
2

Change the order of integration in a triple integral

e.g. “Express the iterated integral … in the order: first zz, then yy, then xx”
  1. 1
    Turn the given limits into inequalities

    Each limit says one variable lies between two expressions.

  2. 2
    Name the bounding surfaces and corner points

    Sketch the solid, or at least its shadow in the plane of the two outer variables.

  3. 3
    Find the new outer variable's range as numbers
  4. 4
    Fix the outer variable; find the middle variable's limits

    If the boundary of that slice changes partway, split the integral there.

  5. 5
    Read the inner limits off the bounding surfaces

Remember: Inequalities first, then rebuild from the outside in.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Rewrite ∫01∫01−x∫02−2x−2yf dz dy dx\displaystyle\int_0^1\int_0^{1 - x}\int_0^{2 - 2x - 2y} f\,dz\,dy\,dx in the order dy dx dzdy\,dx\,dz.

  1. 1
    Turn the given limits into inequalities

    0≤x≤10 \le x \le 1, 0≤y≤1−x0 \le y \le 1 - x, 0≤z≤2−2x−2y0 \le z \le 2 - 2x - 2y.

  2. 2
    Name the bounding surfaces and corner points

    The tetrahedron x,y,z≥0x, y, z \ge 0, 2x+2y+z≤22x + 2y + z \le 2, with corners (0,0,0)(0, 0, 0), (1,0,0)(1, 0, 0), (0,1,0)(0, 1, 0), (0,0,2)(0, 0, 2).

  3. 3
    Find the new outer variable's range as numbers

    0≤z≤20 \le z \le 2.

  4. 4
    Fix the outer variable; find the middle variable's limits

    At height zz: the triangle x,y≥0x, y \ge 0, x+y≤1−z2x + y \le 1 - \tfrac{z}{2}, so 0≤x≤1−z20 \le x \le 1 - \tfrac{z}{2}.

  5. 5
    Read the inner limits off the bounding surfaces

    0≤y≤1−x−z20 \le y \le 1 - x - \tfrac{z}{2}.

Answer:

∫02∫01−z/2∫01−x−z/2f dy dx dz\displaystyle\int_0^2\int_0^{1 - z/2}\int_0^{1 - x - z/2} f\,dy\,dx\,dz

Common mistakes4
  • "First zz, then yy, then xx" means dz dy dxdz\,dy\,dx: zz is innermost.
  • Moving the old limits along with dxdx, dydy, dzdz. The new limits come from the solid.
  • Missing a split: when the top of a slice switches surfaces, you need two integrals.
  • Skipping the check: with f=1f = 1, both forms must give the same volume.
3

Find the mass and center of mass of a solid

e.g. “Find the mass of EE if the density is ρ(x,y,z)=…\rho(x, y, z) = …”
  1. 1
    Set up the limits of EE once

    The mass and all three share them.

  2. 2
    Use symmetry to get coordinates for free

    The solid and the density must both be symmetric.

  3. 3
    Find the mass M=∭Eρ dVM = \iiint_E \rho\,dV

    Constant density, as for a : use the volume for MM and set ρ=1\rho = 1.

  4. 4
    Divide each moment by MM: zˉ=1M∭Ezρ dV\bar z = \frac{1}{M}\iiint_E z\rho\,dV

Remember: Mass, moments, divide.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Find the center of mass of the box 0≤x≤10 \le x \le 1, 0≤y≤10 \le y \le 1, 0≤z≤20 \le z \le 2 with density ρ=x+z\rho = x + z.

  1. 1
    Set up the limits of EE once

    0≤x≤10 \le x \le 1, 0≤y≤10 \le y \le 1, 0≤z≤20 \le z \le 2.

  2. 2
    Use symmetry to get coordinates for free

    The box and ρ\rho are symmetric about y=12y = \tfrac{1}{2}: yˉ=12\bar y = \tfrac{1}{2}.

  3. 3
    Find the mass M=∭Eρ dVM = \iiint_E \rho\,dV

    ∭x dV=12⋅1⋅2=1\iiint x\,dV = \tfrac{1}{2} \cdot 1 \cdot 2 = 1 and ∭z dV=1⋅1⋅2=2\iiint z\,dV = 1 \cdot 1 \cdot 2 = 2, so M=3M = 3.

  4. 4
    Divide each moment by MM: zˉ=1M∭Ezρ dV\bar z = \frac{1}{M}\iiint_E z\rho\,dV

    ∭x(x+z) dV=23+1=53\iiint x(x + z)\,dV = \tfrac{2}{3} + 1 = \tfrac{5}{3} and ∭z(x+z) dV=1+83=113\iiint z(x + z)\,dV = 1 + \tfrac{8}{3} = \tfrac{11}{3}. So xˉ=59\bar x = \tfrac{5}{9}, zˉ=119\bar z = \tfrac{11}{9}.

Answer:

(xˉ,yˉ,zˉ)=(59,12,119)(\bar x, \bar y, \bar z) = \left(\dfrac{5}{9}, \dfrac{1}{2}, \dfrac{11}{9}\right)

Common mistakes3
  • Stopping at a moment and forgetting to divide by MM.
  • Using symmetry when the density breaks it.
  • Using a density for a centroid. A centroid has constant density, so it depends only on the shape.

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