Integrating Over an Elliptical Region in Space

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the volume between the plane z=1 and the surface defined by z=10-x²-4y². The original poster is exploring methods to integrate over an elliptical region in space, specifically addressing the challenges of using both polar and Cartesian coordinates for this problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss various methods for integration, including the use of polar coordinates and Cartesian coordinates. The original poster expresses difficulty in both approaches, particularly in setting up the integration limits over the elliptical region. Some participants suggest using substitutions and slicing the paraboloid to simplify the integration process.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants offering different perspectives on how to approach the integration problem. There is no explicit consensus on the best method, but several viable approaches have been suggested, including parameterization and the use of elliptical area formulas.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of integrating over an elliptical region, with specific attention to the boundaries defined by the surfaces involved. There is mention of potential substitutions and the need for a Jacobian when using non-standard polar coordinates.

hyper
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Hello, I need to find the volume between the plane z=1 and z=10-x*x-4*y*y.

I have tried using polar coordinates:
first integrate from z=1 to z=10-x*x-4*y*y
The I integrate in the plane z=1, but here I need to integrate over an ellipse, how do I do this? When I wrote the expression to polar coordinates I got an expression for r that I couldn't integrate.

I have also tried integrating over the ellipse using cartesian coordinates, but I got stuck aswell, can someone pleas help?
 
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Could you show the actual function you have to integrate over? I suspect it has the form \sqrt{9-4y^2}? If so use the substitution u=\frac{3}{2} \sin \theta. Still integrating like this isn't very pretty. A more elegant method and by far the easiest to integrate is to notice that this is a paraboloid with elliptical cross section. You can then slice the paraboloid parallel to the x-y plane in a lot of slices and then integrate from z=1 to 10. The only thing you have to do is find an expression for the semi major axis and the semi minor axis as a function of z and use that the area of an ellipse is given by pi a b, with a the semi major axis and b the semi minor axis.
 
Last edited:
Cyosis said:
Could you show the actual function you have to integrate over? I suspect it has the form \sqrt{9-4y^2}? If so use the substitution u=\frac{3}{2} \sin \theta. Still integrating like this isn't very pretty. A more elegant method and by far the easiest to integrate is to notice that this is a paraboloid with elliptical cross section. You can then slice the paraboloid parallel to the x-y plane in a lot of slices and then integrate from z=1 to 10. The only thing you have to do is find an expression for the semi major axis and the semi minor axis as a function of z and use that the area of an ellipse is given by pi a b, with a the semi major axis and b the semi minor axis.
No, finding the volume bounded by z= 1 and z= 10- x^2- 4y^2 involves integrating the difference in z values, (10- x^2- 4y^2)- 1= 9- x^2- y^2[/tex] over the circle x^2+ 4y^2= 9, where the two surfaces cross.<br /> <br /> Now the limits of integration, in xy-coordinates will involve something like y= \frac{1}{2}\sqrt{9- x^2}.<br /> <br /> Hyper, you might consider using parameters r and \theta such that x= r cos(\theta) and y= 4r sin(\theta), <b>not</b> standard polar coordinates, with r going from 0 to 1 and \theta from 0 to 2\pi. Do you know how to find the &quot;differential of area&quot; in r and \theta using the Jacobian?
 
Why wouldn't slices be applicable, it yields the same answer?
 

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