Problem with polar double integral

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a polar double integral aimed at finding the area of a region defined by the inequalities \(\frac{1}{2}y^2 \leq x \leq 2y\) and \(0 \leq y \leq 8\). Participants express difficulties in determining the limits of integration and converting the equations into polar coordinates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conversion of the given equations into polar form and the implications for the limits of integration. There is uncertainty about the correct limits for \(r\) and \(\phi\), with some questioning the intersections of the curves within the specified bounds.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with some participants providing guidance on the setup of the integral and the interpretation of the equations. There is recognition of potential errors in the limits of integration, and multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored.

Contextual Notes

One participant notes a potential mistake in the original limits for \(y\), suggesting that the curves may not intersect as initially thought. There is also mention of confusion regarding the conversion of the equations and the resulting area calculations.

Xyius
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Hello everybody, I am having trouble doing this polar double integral. The problem says..

Find the area of the region..

\frac{1}{2}y^2 \leq x \leq 2y <br /> 0 \leq y \leq 8

It is hard for me to come up with the limits of integration. Checking the answer would be easy because I can compare it to the rectangular integral which is easy, but I keep getting it wrong! The most trouble I am having is converting the line to a polar form and using it in the integral. I am pretty sure it would be theta = arctan(2) but I do not know where to put this in my integral.

For the upper limit on "r" I have 4cot(\theta)csc(\theta) I do not know what to put as the lower limit on r except the length r is at that point on the graph of 4cot(\theta)csc(\theta). Which I got to be \frac{2}{sin(arctan(2)}

I am very tired at the moment (Its 1:30 am!) and it is likely this doesn't make any sense to you. I just need some help. :\
 
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Good morning Xyius! :zzz:
Xyius said:
It is hard for me to come up with the limits of integration. Checking the answer would be easy because I can compare it to the rectangular integral which is easy, but I keep getting it wrong! The most trouble I am having is converting the line to a polar form and using it in the integral. I am pretty sure it would be theta = arctan(2) but I do not know where to put this in my integral.

For the upper limit on "r" I have 4cot(\theta)csc(\theta) I do not know what to put as the lower limit on r …

(btw, LaTeX here does not recognise line breaks … type "\ " for spaces :smile:)

The area is between a line and a parabola which intersect at the origin, so won't r go right down to zero? :wink:
 
Moderator's note: thread moved from Calculus & Analysis

Xyius said:
Hello everybody, I am having trouble doing this polar double integral. The problem says..

Find the area of the region..

\frac{1}{2}y^2 \leq x \leq 2y <br /> 0 \leq y \leq 8

Are you sure about those limits for y? It's odd -- but not out of the question -- that those two curves will cross each other inside the limits of integration.

EDIT: Actually, in this case it is out of the question, since y=8 gives 32≤x≤16 for the limits on x, which is never true.
 
Ah crap! I meant to write (1/4)y! It was late! :p

This is how I did my work, please tell me if this looks right to you.

So starting with the basic integral equation..
A=\int^{\phi_{2}}_{\phi_{1}}\int^{r_{2}}_{r_{1}}rdrd\phi

First I want to find the "r" bounds so I did the following..

The graph suggests that my r will range from r=0 to the point where the line and the parabola meet. Since the line crosses through the origin, it acts like "r" and does not need to be taken into account. I will just simply start my r length at the point of intersection.

So I convert to polar coordinates for the parabola..

x=\frac{1}{4}y^2\rightarrow rcos\phi = \frac{1}{4}r^2sin^2\phi\rightarrow<br /> rcos\phi - \frac{1}{4}r^2sin^2\phi \rightarrow r(cos\phi - \frac{1}{4}rsin^2\phi)<br />

Therefore..
r=0,\\ and, \\ cos\phi - \frac{1}{4}rsin^2\phi = 0 \rightarrow <br /> cos\phi = \frac{1}{4}rsin^2\phi \rightarrow \frac{4cos\phi}{sin^2\phi} = r<br />

Therefore..
0\leq r \leq\frac{4cos\phi}{sin^2\phi} = 4cot\phi csc\phi

So now that I have r out of the way, time to move on to theta.

Since the one equation is just a line crossing through the origin...

\phi =arctan( \frac{y}{x}) = arctan(2)
(I just took any (x,y) pair on the line x=2y.

To get the next limit I set the expression for r equal to zero.
r = \frac{4cos\phi}{sin^2\phi}=0\rightarrow cos\phi = 0\rightarrow \phi=\frac{\pi}{2}

So i get..
arctan(2) \leq \phi \leq \frac{\pi}{2}


Plugging into the limits and evaluating I get..

A=\int^{\frac{\pi}{2}}_{arctan(2)}\int^{4cot\phi csc\phi}_{0}rdrd\phi \rightarrow<br /> <br /> \frac{1}{2}\int^{\frac{\pi}{2}}_{arctan(2)}(16cot^2\phi csc^2\phi)d\phi,\ u=cot\phi, \ <br /> <br /> du=-csc^2\phi \rightarrow <br /> <br /> 8\int^{\frac{\pi}{2}}_{arctan(2)}u^2du \rightarrow \frac{8}{3}u^3 \rightarrow<br />
<br /> \frac{8}{3}cot^3\phi^{\frac{\pi}{2}}_{arctan(2)} \rightarrow <br /> <br /> \frac{8}{3}[0-\frac{1}{8}] \rightarrow \frac{1}{3}<br /> <br />

This doesn't make sense however because converting the integral into rectangular coordinates and doing it that way yeilds..

A=\frac{64}{3}
 
It all looks good, except for this:
Xyius said:
Since the one equation is just a line crossing through the origin...

\phi =arctan( \frac{y}{x}) = arctan(2)
(I just took any (x,y) pair on the line x=2y.
How about when y=1? What is x, and what is y/x in that case?
 
A ha! It is 1/2 not 2! That makes it equivalent to the rectangular integral! Thanks a lot for all your guidance :)
 

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