Calculus · real student question

Evaluate the triple integral of xyz over the solid region where 0 ≤ z ≤ 3 and x² + y² ≤ z.

Question

Evaluate

ExyzdV,E={(x,y,z)  :  0z3,  x2+y2z}.\iiint_E xyz\,dV,\qquad E=\{(x,y,z)\;:\;0\le z\le 3,\;x^{2}+y^{2}\le z\}.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Describe the solid. The condition x2+y2zx^{2}+y^{2}\le z places the point inside the paraboloid z=x2+y2z=x^{2}+y^{2}, and z3z\le 3 caps it with a plane. At height zz the cross-section is a disc of radius z\sqrt z, so the solid is a bowl of depth 33 and top radius 3\sqrt3.

  2. Switch to cylindrical coordinates. With x=rcosθx=r\cos\theta, y=rsinθy=r\sin\theta and dV=rdzdrdθdV=r\,dz\,dr\,d\theta,

    xyz=r2cosθsinθz,xyz=r^{2}\cos\theta\sin\theta\cdot z,

    so

    ExyzdV=02π ⁣03 ⁣r23r3zcosθsinθdzdrdθ.\iiint_E xyz\,dV=\int_{0}^{2\pi}\!\int_{0}^{\sqrt3}\!\int_{r^{2}}^{3} r^{3}z\cos\theta\sin\theta\,dz\,dr\,d\theta.

  3. Notice the integral separates. Nothing in the limits depends on θ\theta, and the θ\theta-dependence of the integrand is the single factor cosθsinθ\cos\theta\sin\theta. The whole triple integral therefore factors as

    (02πcosθsinθdθ)(03 ⁣r23r3zdzdr).\left(\int_{0}^{2\pi}\cos\theta\sin\theta\,d\theta\right)\left(\int_{0}^{\sqrt3}\!\int_{r^{2}}^{3}r^{3}z\,dz\,dr\right).

    Checking for this before computing anything saves the entire radial calculation.

  4. Evaluate the angular factor. Using cosθsinθ=12sin2θ\cos\theta\sin\theta=\tfrac12\sin 2\theta,

    02πsin2θ2dθ=[cos2θ4]02π=14+14=0.\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{\sin 2\theta}{2}\,d\theta=\left[-\frac{\cos 2\theta}{4}\right]_{0}^{2\pi}=-\frac14+\frac14=0.

  5. Conclude, and see why geometrically. Since the first factor is 00 and the second is finite, the whole integral is

    ExyzdV=0.\iiint_E xyz\,dV=0.

    The reason is symmetry: the solid is unchanged by xxx\mapsto-x, while xyzxyz changes sign, so contributions cancel in pairs. Numerical triple quadrature over the region returns 9.6×1016-9.6\times10^{-16}, i.e. zero to machine precision.

Answer

00

Need to solve a different problem like this? Open the solver →