Solving Double Integral with Polar Coordinates

In summary, the conversation was about computing an indefinite integral using polar coordinates. The correct solution was given by Mathematica, while the apparently incorrect solution involved using polar coordinates and resulted in an infinite value due to a pole at the origin.
  • #1
asmani
105
0
Hi all.

Suppose that we want to compute the following indefinite integral:

attachment.php?attachmentid=44459&stc=1&d=1330362487.png


The correct solution by Mathematica:

attachment.php?attachmentid=44460&stc=1&d=1330362487.png


Now here is the (apparently) incorrect solution by using polar coordinates:
[tex]\iint\frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}dxdy=\iint\frac{1}{r}rdrd\theta=(r+c_1)(\theta+c_2)[/tex]
If c1=c2=0, then one solution is:
[tex]r\theta=\sqrt{x^2+y^2}\tan^{-1}\left ( \frac{y}{x} \right )[/tex]
But it isn't:

attachment.php?attachmentid=44461&stc=1&d=1330362487.png


What's wrong with this solution?

Thanks in advance.
 

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  • #2
## \iint\frac{1}{r}rdrd\theta ## looks good to me but that would just be ## \iint drd\theta ## with ## 0<r<\infty ## and ## 0<\theta<2\pi ## which is ## \infty ##. I was already worried about that when I saw the pole at the origin but apparently you can fix it by chopping the radius of interest.
 

1. What is a double integral with polar coordinates?

A double integral with polar coordinates is a type of integral in which the integration is performed over a region in the polar coordinate system. This type of integral is useful for solving problems involving circular or symmetric regions.

2. How do you convert a double integral from rectangular to polar coordinates?

To convert a double integral from rectangular to polar coordinates, you can use the following formula:
∫∫f(x,y)dA = ∫∫f(r*cos(θ), r*sin(θ))rdrdθ
This formula takes into account the change in variables and the Jacobian determinant.

3. What is the role of the Jacobian determinant in double integrals with polar coordinates?

The Jacobian determinant is a factor that appears when changing variables in a double integral. In the case of polar coordinates, the Jacobian determinant accounts for the change in area between a rectangular region in the xy-plane and a polar region in the rθ-plane.

4. How do you determine the limits of integration for a double integral with polar coordinates?

The limits of integration for a double integral with polar coordinates depend on the shape and size of the region being integrated. In general, the inner integral is integrated from the minimum value of r to the maximum value of r, and the outer integral is integrated from the minimum value of θ to the maximum value of θ.

5. What are some common applications of solving double integrals with polar coordinates?

Double integrals with polar coordinates are commonly used in physics, engineering, and other fields to calculate areas, volumes, and other quantities in circular or symmetric regions. They are particularly useful for solving problems involving polar coordinates, such as calculating the mass or center of mass of a disk or ring.

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