MHB How Do You Solve an Integral with Two Variables?

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The discussion revolves around solving a complex integral with two variables, where the original poster struggles to achieve consistent results between hand calculations and those from Wolfram Alpha. Initial attempts at integrating the x-part and y-part yield a result of 113/128, which conflicts with the online calculator's output of 35/128. Participants note that the discrepancy may stem from an arithmetic error in the hand calculations, particularly in the final steps. A correction is suggested, indicating that the correct value should be 35/288 instead of 113/288. The conversation highlights the challenges of multi-variable integration and the importance of careful arithmetic.
goohu
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Hey there, trying to figure out how to solve this integral (see picture).

View attachment 8728

I've never seen an integral written in this way before.

I've tried to integrate the x-part first and then the y-part and vice versa but they both gave the wrong results.
 

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First \int_0^{y/2} (1- x^2) dx= \left[x- \frac{x^3}{3}\right]_0^{y/2}= \frac{y}{2}- \frac{1}{3}\frac{y^3}{8}

Then \int_0^1 (1- y^2)(\frac{y}{2}- \frac{y^3}{24} dy= \int_0^1 \frac{y}{2}- \frac{13y^3}{24}+ \frac{y^5}{24} dy= \left[\frac{y^2}{4}- \frac{13y^4}{96}+ \frac{y^6}{144}\right]_0^1= \frac{1}{4}- \frac{13}{96}+ \frac{1}{144}= \frac{72+ 39+ 2}{288}= \frac{113}{288}.

Finally, \frac{9}{4}\frac{113}{288}= \frac{113}{128}.
(Check my arithmetic.)
 
thanks for the quick reply. I re-did your calculations and get the same results as you. After using wolfram alpha (online calculator) i get different results though:

first step:
View attachment 8730

second step:
View attachment 8731

(35/288)*(9/4) = 35/128 = correct answer.

This is weird and its bugging me. Are the hand calculation wrong somewhere?
 

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goohu said:
thanks for the quick reply. I re-did your calculations and get the same results as you. After using wolfram alpha (online calculator) i get different results though:

first step:second step:(35/288)*(9/4) = 35/128 = correct answer.

This is weird and its bugging me. Are the hand calculation wrong somewhere?
That's why I deleted my post in this thread. I can't find an error in Country Boy's result, which is essentially identical to my own. I can't explain why the two are different.

-Dan
 
goohu said:
thanks for the quick reply. I re-did your calculations and get the same results as you. After using wolfram alpha (online calculator) i get different results though:

first step:second step:(35/288)*(9/4) = 35/128 = correct answer.

This is weird and its bugging me. Are the hand calculation wrong somewhere?

Country Boy said:
\ldots = \frac{1}{4}- \frac{13}{96}+ \frac{1}{144}= \frac{72+ 39+ 2}{288}= \frac{113}{288}

It's a plus-and-minus thing.
It should be \frac{1}{4}- \frac{13}{96}+ \frac{1}{144}= \frac{72 {\color{red}-} 39+ 2}{288}= \frac{35}{288}
 
heh found it.

$$\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}-\frac{13}{96}+\frac{1}{144} = \frac{72-39+2}{288}$$
while i was figuring out how to post equations klaas beat me to it. Cheers anyways!
 

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