Integral calculus involving Change of Variables Theorem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a triple integral involving the absolute value of the product of variables \( |xyz| \) over a specified volume \( V \) defined by an ellipsoid in three-dimensional space. The problem is situated within the context of integral calculus and the Change of Variables Theorem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the setup of the integral and the implications of the absolute value in the integrand. There are discussions about the correct regions of integration and the impact of symmetry on the evaluation of the integral. Some participants suggest considering the integral's even nature to simplify the computation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights and suggestions regarding the setup and evaluation of the integral. There is recognition of potential errors in the original approach, particularly concerning the treatment of absolute values and the regions of integration. Some participants express confusion about the correctness of their attempts and seek clarification on the implications of their findings.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the presence of modulus signs in the original integral affects the regions considered for integration. There is an emphasis on ensuring that the regions account for the signs of the trigonometric functions involved in the integral.

Yami
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Homework Statement


Evaluate [tex]\iiint_\textrm{V} |xyz|dxdydz[/tex]
where [tex]V = \{(x,y,z) \in ℝ^3:\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} + \frac{z^2}{c^2} ≤ 1\}[/tex]

Homework Equations


Change of Variables Theorem:
[tex]\int_\textrm{ψ(u)} f(x)dx = \int_\textrm{K} f(\Psi(u))|detD\Psi(u)|du[/tex]

Examples:
1)
For a ball of radius a,
[tex]B(a) = \{(x,y,z) \in ℝ^3:x^2 + y^2 + z^2 ≤ a^2\}[/tex]
[tex]vol B(a) = \int_\textrm{B(a)}1 dxdydz[/tex]
[tex]= \int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{\pi} \int_{0}^{a} \rho^2 sin \phi d \rho d \phi d \theta[/tex](change of variables to spherical coodinates)

2)
For a continuous function f: D → ℝ where
[tex]D = \{(x,y) :\frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} ≤ 1\}[/tex]

define ψ: ℝ^2 → ℝ^2 by ψ(au, bv) for all u,v in ℝ^2. ψ is a smooth change of variables.
Then
[tex]\int_\textrm{D}f(x,y)dxdy = ab\int_\textrm{u^2 + v^2 ≤ 1}f(au, bv) du dv[/tex]
[tex]= ab\int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{1}f(ar cos \theta, br sin \theta) r dr d \theta .[/tex]
(change of variables to polar coordinates)

The Attempt at a Solution


Based on those examples above in the book, I set this up:
Let ψ(u,v,w) = (au, bv, cw)
Then
[tex]\iiint_\textrm{V} |xyz|dxdydz = abc\int_\textrm{u^2 + v^2 + w^2≤ 1}|abcuvw| du dvdw[/tex]
change of variables to spherical coordinates:
[tex]= abc\int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{\pi} \int_{0}^{1} |abc\rho^3 cos \phi sin^2 \phi cos \theta sin \theta|\rho^2 sin \phi d \rho d \phi d \theta .[/tex]

[tex]= (abc)^2\int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{\pi} \int_{0}^{1} \rho^5 cos \phi sin^3 \phi cos \theta sin \theta d \rho d \phi d \theta .[/tex]
p^3 is positive on [0, 1] so I ignored the absolute value lines.

This eventually led to an answer of 0 since one of the antiderivates is sin^4(phi)on [0,pi] which is zero. This is wrong. So I'm guessing the integral I set up or the way I evaluated it is wrong. But I got half credit for it, so I assume some part of it is right.
 
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I think it is your region of integration, the original integral had modulus signs in and that will restrict which regions you have for [itex]\theta[/itex] and [itex]\phi[/itex]. So there are 8 regions you need to consider what the integrand does, you need to think about this, as a simple warm up problem, think about what you would do with the following integral:
[tex] \int_{-a}^{a}|x|dx[/tex]
Then perhaps move up to the double integral where you have only 4 regions to consider.
 
You can't remove the absolute values from the angles. [itex]\sin(\phi)[/itex]is always positive in the integral domain, but all the other trigonometric functions change signs.
 
Okay so I can't ignore the absolute value...
And you're saying these are the wrong regions?
[tex]\int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{\pi} \int_{0}^{1}[/tex]?
 
Did you see my suggestion? It turns the integrand into an even function (see the example I gave) and as with the example:
[tex] \int_{-a}^{a}|x|dx=2\int_{0}^{a}xdx=a^{2}[/tex]
How does this example fit in with your question?

To answer your question, yes, it is your region that you're integrating over.
 
hunt_mat said:
Did you see my suggestion? It turns the integrand into an even function (see the example I gave) and as with the example:
[tex] \int_{-a}^{a}|x|dx=2\int_{0}^{a}xdx=a^{2}[/tex]
How does this example fit in with your question?

To answer your question, yes, it is your region that you're integrating over.
Okay I'm a little confused.

I removed the abc from the integral for the sake of simplicity and tried plugging it into Matlab's triplequad() function. The answer is 1/6 according to Matlab, but obviously I need to know how to evaluate this by hand.

So I'm trying to see how it got to 1/6:

[tex]\int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{\pi} \int_{0}^{1} |\rho^3 cos \phi sin^2 \phi cos \theta sin \theta|\rho^2 sin \phi d \rho d \phi d \theta[/tex]
[tex]= \int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{\pi} \int_{0}^{1} |\rho^3|| cos \phi sin^2 \phi cos \theta sin \theta|\rho^2 sin \phi d \rho d \phi d \theta = \int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{\pi} \int_{0}^{1} \rho^5 |cos \phi sin^2 \phi cos \theta sin \theta| sin \phi d \rho d \phi d \theta[/tex]
[tex]=\int_{0}^{2\pi} \int_{0}^{\pi} \frac{1}{6}|cos \phi sin^2 \phi ||cos \theta sin \theta| sin \phi d \phi d \theta = \frac{1}{6} \int_{0}^{2\pi} |cos \theta sin \theta|[\int_{0}^{0.5\pi} (cos \phi sin^2 \phi ) sin \phi d \phi + \int_{0.5\pi}^{\pi} -(cos \phi sin^2 \phi ) sin \phi d \phi ] d \theta[/tex]
[tex]=\frac{1}{6}\int_{0}^{2\pi}2|cos \theta sin \theta| d\theta[/tex]
which I'm guessing I would spit into
[tex]=\frac{1}{3}[\int_{0}^{0.5\pi}cos \theta sin \theta d \theta + \int_{0.5\pi}^{\pi}-cos \theta sin \theta d \theta + \int_{\pi}^{1.5\pi}cos \theta sin \theta d \theta + \int_{1.5\pi}^{2\pi}-cos \theta sin \theta d \theta][/tex]
But I don't think that's 1/6
Is any of this correct at all?
 
Last edited:
My idea was that you know that the modulus makes the integrand an even function, so you can reduce the limits of the integral. For the 2D example over the disc, we can reduce the integral:
[tex] \int\int_{D}|xy|dxdy=4\int\int_{D_{1}}xydxdy[/tex]
Where [itex]D=\{ (x,y)|x^{2}+y^{2}\leqslant 1\}[/itex] and [itex]D_{1}=\{ (x,y):x^{2}+y^{2}\leqslant 1,x\geqslant 0,y\geqslant 0\}[/itex]
 
I'm still confused... so none of what I did above is correct?

Okay so you're saying this would work?
[tex]\int\int_{D}|xyz|dxdydz=8\iiint_{D_{1}}xyzdxdydz[/tex]
[tex]D=\{ (x,y,z)|x^2+y^2+z^2 ≤ 1\}[/tex] and [tex]D_{1}=\{ (x,y,z)|x^2+y^2+z^2 ≤ 1, x ≥ 0, y≥0, z ≥ 0\}[/tex]
 
Yes, you are beginning to use the symmetry now. Did you test it to see if you got the right answer?

I think what you did is a good idea but it can lead to errors if you're not careful.

Mat
 

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