Calculus · real student question

Evaluate the double integral of x^2 + y^2 over the region 0 <= x <= 1, 0 <= y <= 1.

Question

Evaluate the double integral

D(x2+y2)dA,D={(x,y)0x1, 0y1}.\iint_D\left(x^2+y^2\right)dA,\qquad D=\{(x,y)\mid 0\le x\le 1,\ 0\le y\le 1\}.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Set up the iterated integral over a rectangle. Constant limits mean the order does not matter, so write 0101(x2+y2)dydx\int_0^1\int_0^1\left(x^2+y^2\right)dy\,dx.

  2. Split the integrand into two single-variable pieces. (x2+y2)dA=x2dA+y2dA\iint(x^2+y^2)\,dA=\iint x^2\,dA+\iint y^2\,dA. Each piece separates because the region is a product of intervals.

  3. Evaluate the first piece. 01x2dx01dy=131=13\int_0^1 x^2\,dx\cdot\int_0^1 dy=\frac13\cdot 1=\frac13.

  4. Use symmetry for the second piece. Swapping the roles of xx and yy maps the square to itself and turns the second integrand into the first, so y2dA=13\iint y^2\,dA=\frac13 as well. Recognising the symmetry saves repeating the computation.

  5. Add the two contributions. The value is 13+13=230.6667\frac13+\frac13=\frac23\approx 0.6667.

  6. Numerical check. Adaptive quadrature over the unit square returns 0.666666670.66666667, matching 23\frac23.

Answer

23\frac{2}{3}

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