Finding The Volume Of Solid Using Triple Integrals

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around setting up and evaluating a triple integral to find the volume of a solid defined by a cylinder and a plane. The solid is bounded by the cylinder \(x^2 + y^2 = 9\), lying above the xy-plane and below the plane \(z = y + 3\).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to establish the limits for the triple integral and expresses uncertainty about the setup. They consider converting to polar coordinates but seek validation for their current approach. Other participants confirm the initial setup, while one participant elaborates on the integration process and expresses difficulty with the final integral.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some confirming the original poster's setup and others exploring integration techniques, including trigonometric substitution. There is a focus on clarifying the integration steps and addressing uncertainties in the process.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity of integrating the final expression and question the appropriateness of using trigonometric substitution. There is an acknowledgment of the challenges in recalling integration techniques.

wubie
Hello,

I am having trouble setting up triple integrals to find a volume of a given solid. Here is one of the questions with which I am having trouble.

Find the volume of the region inside the cylinder x^2 + y^2 = 9, lying above the xy plane, and below the plane z = y + 3.

Now I can see that the projection of the solid on the xy plane is the circle x^2 + y^2 = 9. And I think I can visualize the plane z = y + 3 with respect to the cylinder - it slices the cylinder in half diagonally. But I am not sure how to set up the triple integral.

This is the way I would set up the integral

Let E be the solid in question. Then

E = {(x,y,z) | -3 <= x <= 3, -(9-x^2)^1/2 <= y <= (9-x^2)^1/2, 0 <= z <= y + 3 }

If I was to integrate using these limits I would then integrate with respect to z first, then y, then x.

Now I know that it would be easier to eventually convert to polar coordinates but I would like to know if the way I set up the triple integral to find the volume of the solid is correct so far.

int.[-3,3] int.[-(9-x^2)^1/2,(9-x^2)^1/2] int.[0,y+3] 1*dz*dy*dx

How does that look so far?
 
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I get the same thing.
 
Thanks Tom.
 
I am still having trouble with this question. The easiest part should be integrating the triple integral but I can't seem to get it.

I first integrate with respect to z.

int.[0,y+3] 1*dz = y + 3.

I now integrate with respect to y.

int.[-(9-x^2)^1/2,(9-x^2)^1/2] y + 3 dy =

(y^2)/2 - 3y | .[-(9-x^2)^1/2,(9-x^2)^1/2] =


(((9-x^2)^1/2)^2)/2 + 3((9-x^2)^1/2)) - [((-(9-x^2)^1/2)^2)/2 + 3(-(9-x^2)^1/2)) =

(9-x^2)/2 + 3(9-x^2)^1/2 - [(9-x^2)/2 - 3(9-x^2)^1/2] = 6(9-x^2)^1/2

Now I should integrate with respect to x. But I can't seem to do it / remember how to integrate this part:

int.[-3,3] 6(9-x^2)^1/2 dx

Any further help is appreciated.

BTW, would I be able to integrate this integral with trig substitution? If so. I cannot remember how to do that. Could someone guide me / help me recall the process? Thanks again.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Right. It's been awhile since I have done trig. substitution, but I believe that that is the way to go here. (Stop me if I am wrong please). 8)

So I presently have

int.[-3,3] 6(9-x^2)^1/2 dx


I now do my trig. sub. by letting x be 3 sin theta. Therefore

dx = 3 cos theta dtheta

I also change my limits.


If x = 3 then theta should be pi/2 and if x = -3 then theta should be -pi/2.

Now to integrate:

If I let x = 3 sin theta then

int.[-3,3] 6(9-x^2)^1/2 dx

becomes

6 * int. [-pi/2, pi/2] (9 - (3sin theta)^2)^1/2 * 3 cos theta dtheta

which then becomes

6 * int. [-pi/2, pi/2] (9 - 9 sin^2theta)^1/2 * 3 cos theta dtheta

which becomes

6 * int. [-pi/2, pi/2] (9 (1 - sin^2theta))^1/2 * 3 cos theta dtheta

which becomes

6 * int. [-pi/2, pi/2] 3 * (1 - sin^2theta)^1/2 * 3 cos theta dtheta

which then becomes

54 * int. [-pi/2, pi/2] (cos^2theta)^1/2 * cos theta dtheta

then

54 * int. [-pi/2, pi/2] cos theta * cos theta dtheta

which becomes

54 * int. [-pi/2, pi/2] cos^2theta dtheta.

Now using the trig. identity

cos^2 = (1+cos2theta)/2
I get

54 * int. [-pi/2, pi/2] (1+cos2theta)/2 dtheta.

which becomes

27 * [ theta + 1/2 * sin2theta] with the limits [-pi/2, pi/2].

Then sub. in the limits.

27 * [ pi/2 + 0 - (-pi/2 + 0) ] = 27 * 2pi/2 = 27 pi.

Anyway, that is what I did and that is what I got. Have I made errors? Or did I do fine? And is this the volume of the solid?
 

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