Finding Area Underneath Variable Curve

Vile Smile
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


The region enclosed by [PLAIN]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?y^2%20=%20kx and the line [URL]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?x%20=%20\frac{1}{4}k[/URL] is revolved about the line [URL]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?x%20=%20\frac{1}{2}k.[/URL] Use cylindrical shells to find the volume of the resulting solid. (Assume k > 0)

Homework Equations



[URL]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?V%20=%202\pi\int_{a}^{b}xf(x)[/URL]

The Attempt at a Solution



I started by trying to find the interval. I've managed to come up [URL]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?b=\frac{1}{4}k,[/URL] but I'm unsure of how to find a. In addition, because the area is being revolved around a vertical axis, I changed [PLAIN]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?y^2%20=%20kx to [URL]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?y=\sqrt{kx}.[/URL]

Here is my current equation:

[URL]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?V%20=%202\pi\int_{a}^{\frac{1}{4}k}(\frac{1}{2}k-x)(\sqrt{kx})[/URL]I need to find a. Also, I would appreciate if someone told me if I've taken the right steps so far in solving the problem.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
The domain of y^{2}=kx is [0 , \infty], so x=0 would have to be your lower limit.
 
Your problem also looks correct so far, though you may consider whether they are asking about y=\sqrt{kx} or y^{2}=kx. The region between y^{2}=kx and x=\frac{1}{4}k is larger than the region used in your integral.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top