How Do You Calculate Volume by Rotating a Region Bounded by Curves?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the volume of a solid obtained by rotating a region bounded by the curve \(x^{3} y = 64\), the line \(y = 1\), and vertical lines \(x = 2\) and \(x = 4\). Participants explore various methods for volume calculation, including the shell method and the washer method, across different axes of rotation.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using the shell method for calculating volume, presenting the integral \(2\pi\int_{a}^{b}y f\left(y\right) \,dy\) but expresses uncertainty about the setup.
  • Another participant approximates the volume by considering small cylinders formed by rotating rectangles around the x-axis, leading to an integral for volume calculation.
  • Several participants provide specific volume calculations for different axes of rotation, including around the x-axis, the line \(y = 1\), the y-axis, and the line \(x = 2\), yielding different results.
  • One participant confirms a volume calculation around the line \(y = 1\) using both the washer and shell methods, arriving at the same result of \(\frac{74 \pi}{5}\).
  • Another participant calculates the volume around the y-axis using both washer and shell methods, obtaining a consistent result of \(20\pi\).
  • Participants express a desire to check calculations against each other, indicating a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
  • Some participants share their learning experiences and improvements in understanding the shell method through the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views and methods for calculating volume, with no consensus reached on the best approach or the correctness of specific calculations. Disagreements exist regarding the setup and results for different axes of rotation.

Contextual Notes

Some calculations depend on specific assumptions about the setup of the problem and the methods used, which may not be universally agreed upon. Participants also explore the implications of boundaries on volume calculations, particularly regarding the line \(y = 1\).

karush
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http://mathhelpboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5579&stc=1
W9.3.8
Let $S$ be the region of the xy-plane bounded above by the curve $x^{3} y = 64$
below by the line $y = 1$, on the left by the line $x = 2$,
and on the right by the line $x = 4$. Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating S around
(a) the -axis,
(b) the line $y = 1$,
(c) the y-axis,
(d) the line $x = 2$ . Not sure how to set this up

Was going to use shell method which basically is

$$2\pi\int_{a}^{b}y f\left(y\right) \,dy $$
 
Last edited:
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karush said:
W9.3.8
Let $S$ be the region of the xy-plane bounded above by the curve $x^{3} y = 64$
below by the line $y = 1$, on the left by the line $x = 2$,
and on the right by the line $x = 4$. Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating S around
(a) the -axis,
(b) the line $y = 1$,
(c) the y-axis,
(d) the line $x = 2$ . Not sure how to set this up

Was going to use shell method which basically is

$$2\pi\int_{a}^{b}y f\left(y\right) \,dy $$

Since you are rotating around the x axis, approximate the area under the curve with rectangles of width $\displaystyle \begin{align*} y = \frac{64}{x^3} \end{align*}$ and very small length $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \Delta x \end{align*}$. Then the volume can be approximated by rotating each of these rectangles around the x axis, giving small cylinders of radius $\displaystyle \begin{align*} y = \frac{64}{x^3} \end{align*}$ and height $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \Delta x \end{align*}$. Then the volume of each small cylinder is $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \pi \, y^2 \, \Delta x \end{align*}$ and the total volume is then approximately $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sum{ \pi \, y^2 \, \Delta x } \end{align*}$.

As we increase the number of rectangles (to infinity) by making $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \Delta x \end{align*}$ smaller (to 0), the approximation becomes exact and the sum converges on an integral. Thus the volume generated by rotating $\displaystyle \begin{align*} y = \frac{64}{x^3} \end{align*}$ between x = 2 and x = 4 is

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} V &= \int_2^4{ \pi \, \left( \frac{64}{x^3} \right) ^2 \, \mathrm{d}x } \\ &= 4096\,\pi \int_2^4{ x^{-6}\,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= 4096\,\pi \, \left[ \frac{x^{-5}}{-5} \right]_2^4 \\ &= -\frac{4096}{5}\,\pi\,\left[ \frac{1}{x^5} \right]_2^4 \\ &= -\frac{4096}{5} \, \pi \, \left( \frac{1}{4^5} - \frac{1}{2^5} \right) \\ &= -\frac{4096}{5}\,\pi \, \left( -\frac{31}{1024} \right) \\ &= \frac{124}{5}\,\pi \end{align*}$

Now we have to think about what would happen if we remove the volume of the cylinder that is formed from there being a boundary at y = 1 as well...
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the steps
I'm going to do more volume problems today till I get a good handle on it😎😎😎
 
b. About $y=1$

$$y_1=\frac{64}{{x}^{3}}$$

$$\pi\int_{2}^{4}\left(y_1-1\right)^2 \,dy = \frac{74 \pi}{5 }$$
 
Last edited:
About y-axis

$$\pi\int_{1}^{8}\left(x_1(y)^2 -2^2 \right) \,dy = 20 \pi$$

About x=2 ?
 
karush said:
b. About $y=1$

$$y_1=\frac{64}{{x}^{3}}$$

$$\pi\int_{2}^{4}\left(y_1-1\right)^2 \,dy = \frac{74 \pi}{5 }$$

Let's check that using the shell method:

$$dV=2\pi rh\,dy$$

$$r=y-1$$

$$h=x-2=2\left(2y^{-\frac{1}{3}}-1\right)$$

And so we have:

$$dV=4\pi (y-1)\left(2y^{-\frac{1}{3}}-1\right)\,dy$$

$$V=4\pi\int_1^8 2y^{\frac{2}{3}}-y-2y^{-\frac{1}{3}}+1\,dy=\frac{74\pi}{5}\checkmark$$
 
Well that helped a lot to understand the shell mdthod😄😄
 
karush said:
About y-axis

$$\pi\int_{1}^{8}\left(x_1(y)^2 -2^2 \right) \,dy = 20 \pi$$

About x=2 ?

About the $y$-axis:

Washer method:

$$dV=\pi\left(R^2-r^2\right)\,dy$$

$$R=x$$

$$r=2$$

Hence:

$$dV=\pi\left(x^2-2^2\right)\,dy=4\pi\left(4y^{-\frac{2}{3}}-1\right)\,dy$$

And so we have:

$$V=4\pi\int_1^8 4y^{-\frac{2}{3}}-1\,dy=20\pi$$

Shell method:

$$dV=2\pi rh\,dx$$

$$r=x$$

$$h=y-1=64x^{-3}-1$$

Hence:

$$V=2\pi\int_2^4 64x^{-2}-x\,dx=20\pi$$

Can you give $x=2$ as the axis of revolution a try now? Whichever way you do it, I will do it the other way as a check. :)
 
$y_1=\frac{64}{{x}^{3}}$

$x-2=r$

$$2 \pi \int_{2 }^{4 }r\left(y_1-1\right) \,dx=4\pi$$
 
  • #10
karush said:
$y_1=\frac{64}{{x}^{3}}$

$x-2=r$

$$2 \pi \int_{2 }^{4 }r\left(y_1-1\right) \,dx=4\pi$$

Using the disk method:

$$dV=\pi r^2\,dy$$

$$r=x-2=2\left(2y^{-\frac{1}{3}}-1\right)$$

Hence:

$$V=4\pi\int_1^8 4y^{-\frac{2}{3}}-4y^{-\frac{1}{3}}+1\,dy=4\pi$$
 

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