Reverse Integral and Evaluation: A Trick Question?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of a double integral and the process of reversing the order of integration. Participants explore the implications of their choices in setting bounds for the integrals and the potential impact on the evaluation results.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a reversed integral and questions the evaluation leading to zero, suggesting a possible error in their approach.
  • Another participant points out a minor mistake in the bounds of the reversed integral, proposing a correction without certainty about their own accuracy.
  • A participant emphasizes the importance of visualizing the region of integration to aid in understanding the problem.
  • Concerns are raised about losing points due to the choice of bounds, referencing a similar problem from a textbook that uses negative bounds.
  • A participant questions the presence of negative bounds in the textbook problem, seeking clarification on the reasoning behind it.
  • One participant explains that the negative bounds are necessary because part of the domain extends into negative x-values.
  • A participant asks about the interchange of differential elements in the integrand, indicating a potential oversight in the process.
  • Another participant acknowledges a mistake in their approach and expresses regret for not correcting it earlier.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correct bounds for the integrals and the evaluation process, indicating that multiple competing perspectives exist without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved issues regarding the assumptions made in setting the bounds of integration and the implications of these choices on the evaluation of the integral.

NINHARDCOREFAN
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One question on it was reverse the following integral and then evaluate it:

[tex]\int_{0}^{\pi}\int_{x^2}^{\pi^2} x^3y dydx[/tex]

So I got the following reversed integral:
[tex]\int_{0}^{\pi^2}\int_{-\sqrt{y}}^{\sqrt{y}} x^3y dxdy[/tex]

When you first evaluate in respect to x you get 0, am I doing something wrong?
 
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minor mistake really... the second integral should be
[tex]\int_0^{\pi^2}\int_0^{\sqrt{y}} x^3 y \partial x \partial y[/tex]
I really doubt you would lose a lot of marks

unless I've made a mistake which is possible
 
Yeah, as always, drawing out your region really helps. This is an interesting part of calculus where you can actually visualize things... unlike many other math courses.
 
Damn it, I put -sqrt(y) because in the book, the same problem (with x^2 in the lower bound of the first integral) like it put -sqrt(y) in the lower bound for it's solution. I would get lot of points taken off... it's a 15 point problem, the professors are harsh, i would get taken off -10 or something like that
 
The book problem...

The book problem was:
[tex]\int_{-2}^{2}\int_{x^2}^{4} x^2y dydx[/tex]

Their answer was:
[tex]\int_{0}^{4}\int_{-\sqrt{y}}^{\sqrt{y}} x^2y dydx[/tex]

Why was there a -sqrt(y) in this problem?
 
The reason for that comes from the fact that part of your domain for the region extends into the dreaded negative x.
 
and might i ask, did you mean to interchange the differential elements in the second integrand?

And also, NIN rocks!
 
Last edited:
Yes, I meant to do that. Damn it! I should have changed there right then because the problem would have never come out to zero. Oh well. Thanks.
 

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