Find total charge (using double integration)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the total charge in a specified rectangular region using double integration. Participants explore the implications of the order of integration (dxdy vs. dydx) on the results obtained and how it relates to the limits of integration.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant sets up a double integral with dxdy but finds discrepancies with the textbook solution that uses dydx, questioning whether the order of integration affects the outcome.
  • Another participant asserts that for a rectangular region, integration can be performed in either order without affecting the limits of integration.
  • A later reply emphasizes that switching the order of integration should not change the limits if the region is indeed rectangular.
  • There is a request for clarification on the original question, indicating some confusion about the specifics of the problem being discussed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that for a rectangular region, the order of integration does not affect the limits. However, there is some disagreement regarding the implications of the discrepancies in results, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific issue faced by the original poster.

Contextual Notes

The discussion lacks detailed information about the original problem and the specific work done by the participants, which may be necessary to fully understand the discrepancies in results.

Max
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The question asks to find total charge in a region given x has lower bound 0 - upper bound 5 , y has lower bound as 2 and upper bound as 5. Based on knowledge I have been reading throughout the chapter, I set up a double integration with those dxdy, but the results went out to be off - compared to the solution textbook that set up their double integration the other way around which was dydx.

My question is whether the order of dy and dx for double integration makes the difference when you attempt to find the volume?
Thanks!
 
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Max said:
The question asks to find total charge in a region given x has lower bound 0 - upper bound 5 , y has lower bound as 2 and upper bound as 5. Based on knowledge I have been reading throughout the chapter, I set up a double integration with those dxdy, but the results went out to be off - compared to the solution textbook that set up their double integration the other way around which was dydx.

My question is whether the order of dy and dx for double integration makes the difference when you attempt to find the volume?
Thanks!
If the region of integration is the rectangle ##\{(x, y) | 0 \le x \le 5, 2 \le y \le 5\}##, you should be able to integrate in either order. If the region is not a rectangle, then changing the order of integration makes a difference as far as the limits of integration go.

Since you haven't provided further information about the problem and your work, it's impossible to say why your answer disagrees with the answer in the book.
 
Ah, thank you!
 
And yes, today in lecture, the professor answered the same way as the region was a rectangle, so the boundaries inside should be in terms of the other variables while the boundary outside should be numbers
 
Max said:
And yes, today in lecture, the professor answered the same way as the region was a rectangle, so the boundaries inside should be in terms of the other variables while the boundary outside should be numbers
This makes no sense. If the region of integration is a rectangle, your integral will look something like this:
##\int_{x = 0}^5 \int_{y = 2}^5~f(x, y)dy~dx##.
Switching the order of integration gives ##\int_{y = 2}^5 \int_{x = 0}^5~f(x, y)dx~dy##.
In both cases, the limits of integration don't involve variable expressions. I include "x = ..." and "y = ..." in the lower limits of integration only to show the name of the variable.
 
Will you please specify the question?
 
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