Changing a double integral to polar coordinates

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves converting a double integral from Cartesian to polar coordinates, specifically the integral \(\int^{2}_{0}\int^{\sqrt{2x-x^2}}_{0}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}dydx\). The original poster attempts to rewrite the integral while determining the appropriate limits for integration in polar coordinates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conversion of the integrand and the limits of integration. The original poster expresses confusion about the limits for \(r\) and \(\vartheta\). Some participants question the correctness of the limits derived from the Cartesian setup and suggest drawing the region of integration to clarify the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on the importance of visualizing the region of integration. There is acknowledgment of the need to clarify the limits of integration, particularly for \(r\) and \(\vartheta\). Some participants have offered insights into the geometric interpretation of the region.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of potential typos in the limits of integration, and participants are verifying the setup of the region \(R\) defined by the original integral. The original poster has made corrections to their limits but continues to seek confirmation on their accuracy.

Ral
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Homework Statement


Rewrite by converting to polar coordinates, carefully drawing R.

[tex]\int^{2}_{0}\int^{\sqrt{2x-x^2}}_{0}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}dydx[/tex]

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


I believe I have the inside part of it right. What I did was replace the x^2 and y^2 in [tex]\sqrt{x^2+y^2}[/tex] with [tex]r^2cos^2\vartheta[/tex] and [tex]r^2sin^2\vartheta[/tex], factored out the r^2, which left me with [tex]cos^2\vartheta+sin^2\vartheta[/tex], which equals 1. So then I would be left with [tex]\sqrt{r^2}rdrd\vartheta[/tex]

What's confusing me is what my limits on the integrals should be. What I have right now is

[tex]\int^{\pi/2}_{0}\int^{2}}_{0}\sqrt{r^2}rdrd\vartheta[/tex]
but I'm still unsure if that's correct or not.
 
Last edited:
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Have you drawn the region R? From your Cartesian integral, the limits for y range from 0 to sqrt(x^2 - 4). You show this as sqrt(x^2 - 2^2). Is there some reason you wrote 2^2 instead of 4?

Can you show us your reasoning in changing the limits of integration as you did?

One last thing. In your polar integral you should simplify sqrt(r^2) to r.
 
That limit should have been [tex]\sqrt{2x-x^2[/tex]. I messed up typing it up, I edited it in the right limit.
 
OK, I thought there might be a typo there. Your region R over which integration takes place is bounded by y = 0 and y = sqrt(2x - x^2), and by x = 0 and x = 2.

Can you draw this region? This problem also asks you to do that. The regions is a simple geometric shape, and one that will make the polar integral very easy.

Many times in these types of problems, the hardest part is understanding exactly what the region of integration looks like. If you can't do this, changing the limits will pretty much be insurmountable.
 
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5444/66431931.jpg

Here's what I had. The 1st quadrant would be shaded. The one that's confusing me the most is the integral for dr, while I think the integral for d[tex]\vartheta[/tex] is correct.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yes, that's what R looks like.
Ral said:
The one that's confusing me the most is the integral for dr, while I think the integral for d[tex]\vartheta[/tex]
is correct.
Do you mean the limits of integration for r and [tex]\vartheta[/tex]?
Otherwise, I don't understand what you mean.
 
Yes, I mean the limits of integration for r and theta. So if that R is correct, then that means I had the correct answer, right?
 
Yes, but I would write the polar integral as [tex]\int^{\pi/2}_{0}\int^{2}}_{0}r^2drd\vartheta[/tex]

In the polar interpretation of R, r extends from 0 to 2. All points on the circle are 2 units from its center. [itex]\theta[/itex] extends from 0 to [itex]\pi[/itex]/2. That gives you the quarter circle in the first quadrant.
 
Yeah, I was going to do that simplification. Thanks for helping me clarify this.
 

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