How does this integral come out to be zero?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the evaluation of the integral ∫ (y(4-x^2-y^2)^(3/2) dy from y=(-sqrt(4-x^2)) to sqrt(4-x^2). Participants explore why the integral evaluates to zero despite the limits being different, specifically questioning the implications of having limits that are additive inverses.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the integral evaluates to zero and questions whether this is a general property of integrals with limits that are additive inverses.
  • Another participant provides a mathematical evaluation of the integral, suggesting that the integral equals a specific expression and points out a missing factor in the calculation.
  • A later reply confirms the evaluation and states that the integral equals zero because the integrand is an even function, which vanishes over symmetric intervals.
  • There is acknowledgment of a misunderstanding regarding the limits of integration, with participants correcting each other on the limits used.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the evaluation of the integral leading to zero due to the properties of the integrand, but there is some initial confusion about the limits and the implications of their symmetry.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the nature of the integrand being even and how this affects the evaluation over symmetric limits, but there is no detailed exploration of the conditions under which this property holds.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in integral calculus, properties of even functions, and the evaluation of definite integrals may find this discussion relevant.

hivesaeed4
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The question is:
∫ (y(4-x^2-y^2)^(3/2) dy with y=(-sqrt(4-x^2)) to sqrt(4-x^2)) dy

I evaluated it online and it came out to be zero which was quite astonishing since both limits of y are not the same. The limits are the additive inverses of each other. Does this mean that regardless of the integrand if the limits are additive inverses of each other the integral will evaluate to be zero?
 
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hivesaeed4 said:
The question is:
∫ (y(4-x^2-y^2)^(3/2) dy with y=(-sqrt(4-x^2)) to sqrt(4-x^2)) dy

I evaluated it online and it came out to be zero which was quite astonishing since both limits of y are not the same. The limits are the additive inverses of each other. Does this mean that regardless of the integrand if the limits are additive inverses of each other the integral will evaluate to be zero?


I really don't understand what you mean by "[itex]y=-\sqrt{4-x^2}\,\, to\,\, \sqrt{4-x^2}\, dy[/itex]" , but

[itex]\int y\left(4-x^2-y^2\right)^{3/2}\,dy=-\frac{1}{2}\int -2y\left(4-x^2-y^2\right)^{3/2}\, dy=\frac{2}{5}\left(4-x^2-y^2\right)^{5/2}+C\,,\,\,C=[/itex] constant in y .

DonAntonio
 
My bad. The limits of y were -sqrt(4-x^2) to sqrt(4-x^2)).

(And by the way you forgot to multiply the -1/2 factor in your last step).
 
hivesaeed4 said:
My bad. The limits of y were -sqrt(4-x^2) to sqrt(4-x^2)).

(And by the way you forgot to multiply the -1/2 factor in your last step).



Indeed I did, but then we're done as your integral equals

[itex]-\frac{1}{5}\left[\left(4-x^2-(\sqrt{4-x^2})^2\right)-\left(4-x^2-(-\sqrt{4-x^2})^2\right)\right]=0[/itex] , and there's anything surprising in this as the integrand

function is an even one (in y, of course) and thus it vanishes in any symmetric interval.

DonAntonio
 
Oh. Oh I see. Thanks DonAntonio.
 

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