Finding Volume Using the Disk Method

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The discussion focuses on finding the volume of a solid generated by revolving the area between the curves y = x^2 and y = 4x - x^2 around the line y = 6 using the disk method. The correct setup for the integral is π ʃ [(x^2 - 6)^2 - (4x - x^2 - 6)^2] dx from 0 to 2. After performing the algebra, the volume is calculated as π(64/3), which matches the textbook answer. A minor point raised is the order of the functions in the integral, which should be reversed for clarity, although it does not affect the outcome in this case. The discussion concludes with the acknowledgment of a potential algebra mistake in earlier calculations.
1d20
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Hi all, first time here. Huzzah! Looking for help setting up the integral for this:

1. Find the volume of the solid generated by revolving the region bounded by y = x^2 and y = 4x - x^2 around the line y = 6.

2. V = π ʃ [f(x)]^2 dx

3. I've tried every variation of:

π ʃ [(x^2 - 6)^2 - (4x - x^2)^2] dx (0, 2)

and

π ʃ [(x^2 - 6)^2 - (4x - x^2 - 6)^2] dx (0, 2)

I can think of.
 
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The second is correct. Since you are rotating around the line y= 6, 6- f(x) is the 'radius' of rotation. |x^2- 6| is the distance from y= 6 to y= x^2 so the area of the disk is \pi(x^2-6)^2. |4x- x^2- 6| is the distance from y= 6 to y= 4x- x^2 so the area of the disk is \pi(4x-x^2-6)^2. The area of the "washer" between them is \pi((x^2- 6)^2- (4x-x^2-6)^2 so the whole volume is
\pi\int [(x^2- 6)^2- (4x-x^2- 6)^2]dx

Now, you say you "tried" that. Exactly what did you do?
 
HallsofIvy said:
Now, you say you "tried" that. Exactly what did you do?
I did the algebra:

(x^2 - 6)^2 = x^4 - 12x^2 + 36
(4x-x^2 - 6)^2 = x^4 - 8x^3 + 28x^2 - 48x + 36
(x^4 - 12x^2 + 36) - (x^4 - 8x^3 + 28x^2 - 48x + 36) = 8x^3 - 40x^2 - 48x

Then I integrated:

\pi\int (8x^3 - 40x^2 - 48x) dx = \pi(2x^4 - (40/3)x^3 - 24x^2)

Then I plugged the interval (0, 2) into it:

\pi(2(2)^4 - (40/3)(2)^3 - 24(2)^2) = \pi(64/3)

...which is exactly what the textbook says. *sigh* I feel very foolish; I must have made an algebra mistake during the last step. Thanks anyway!
 
1d20 said:
π ʃ [(x^2 - 6)^2 - (4x - x^2 - 6)^2] dx (0, 2)

As a picky point that makes no difference in this problem (and which HallsofIvey pointed out), the 6 and the functions above should be reversed, which can be seen if you draw the pictures and look at the radius of the inner and the outer.

π ʃ [(6-x^2)^2 - (6-4x + x^2)^2] dx

Since they are squared here, it makes no difference, but it would make a difference when you are using the method of cylindrical shells.
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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