Solve Real Line Integral: Circle Ranging A(0,R) to B(R,0)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating a line integral of the form \(\int_{AB} x^2 dx + \sqrt{xy} dy\), where the path AB is a segment of a circle in the first quadrant, ranging from point A(0,R) to point B(R,0). Participants are exploring the implications of using polar coordinates and the challenges associated with integrating the square root term.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the parametrization of the circle and the resulting integral after substitution. There are questions about the correctness of the original integral and whether the integral can be computed analytically. Some participants express confusion regarding the presence of a square root in the answer and whether it aligns with the integral setup.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the integral's formulation and the discrepancies between results obtained from Mathematica and those expected from the exercise book. There is no clear consensus on the correct form of the integral or the method of evaluation, but several participants are actively questioning assumptions and exploring different interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the exercise is from an undergraduate textbook, which raises expectations about the integrability of the problem on paper. There is also mention of potential typos in the exercise book regarding the integral's formulation.

irycio
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Homework Statement


Calculate the line integral \int\limits_{AB} x^2 dx+ \sqrt{xy}dy, where AB is a part of a circle in the first quarter of carthesian coordinates system ranging from A(0,R) to b(R,0).


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Parametrisation of a circle:
x=Rcos(t), y=Rsin(t)
dx=-Rsin(t)dt, dy=Rcos(t)dt
t ranges from \frac{\pi}{2} to 0.

And so the integral with the parametrisation applied is:
\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{2}}^0( -R^3 cos^2(t) sin(t)+R^2 \sqrt{sin(t)cos(t)}cos(t))dt

Now, the first part of the sum is simple. The latter one, the one with the root, is, according to Mathematica, analytically uncalculable (returns hypergeometric function). Now, when I tried evaluating the definite integral (using Mathematica), it returned \frac{1}{24} \left(8 R^2-3 \sqrt{2} \pi R \sqrt{R}\right), whereas the answer says it's \frac{1}{15} R^2 (6 \sqrt{R}-5R). Who's right and is it possible to calculate it on paper. Maybe I shuldn't have used the polar coordinates? But I would then end up with a double root!
 
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Are you sure the original integral is correct? I don't see how you can get a \sqrt{R} in the answer from the integral you started with.

EDIT: I think the integral is supposed to be

\int_{AB} (x^2\,dx + \sqrt{x}y\,dy)

That'll give the answer you're trying to get, I think.
 
That's what I was calculating, I just forgot to write the brackets ;). I wrote it correctly in 3-attempt at a solution. And this is what I evaluated in Mathematica. And integrating this root is the only problem :).
 
irycio said:
That's what I was calculating, I just forgot to write the brackets ;). I wrote it correctly in 3-attempt at a solution. And this is what I evaluated in Mathematica. And integrating this root is the only problem :).

Did you notice vela's version of the integral is sqrt(x)*y*dy, not sqrt(xy)*dy?
 
My bad, I didn't, sorry. But what it says in the exercise book is sqrt(xy). And the answer came from mathematica, it seems quite weird to me as well, but i checked it a couple of times

E: you're right, there is not root of r in the answer, my apologies. But the integral should be the way i wrote it.
 
irycio said:
Now, when I tried evaluating the definite integral (using Mathematica), it returned \frac{1}{24} \left(8 R^2-3 \sqrt{2} \pi R \sqrt{R}\right), whereas the answer says it's \frac{1}{15} R^2 (6 \sqrt{R}-5R). Who's right and is it possible to calculate it on paper. Maybe I shuldn't have used the polar coordinates? But I would then end up with a double root!


Mathematica returns:

<br /> \int\limits_{AB} x^2 dx+ \sqrt{xy}dy =<br /> \frac{1}{24} \left(8 R^3-3 \sqrt{2} \pi R \sqrt{R}\right)

and is consistent with the numerical results.
 
Whatever the result is, given that this exercise was taken from exercise book i would expect it to be calculable on a paper. And it is a book for undergraduates. WTF??
 
jackmell said:
Mathematica returns:

<br /> \int\limits_{AB} x^2 dx+ \sqrt{xy}dy =<br /> \frac{1}{24} \left(8 R^3-3 \sqrt{2} \pi R \sqrt{R}\right)

and is consistent with the numerical results.
Could you show us what you entered into Mathematica to get that result? In the second term, \sqrt{xy} is proportional to R as is dy, so that term should be proportional to R2.
 
Integrate[
Sqrt[r^2*Sin[t]*Cos[t]]*Cos[t] - r^2*Sin[t]*(Cos[t])^2, {t, \[Pi]/2,
0}]

You are right, I was wrong. I messed up with those 'r's'. But nevertheless, question remains actual-how the hell am i supposed to calculate it on a paper with the knowledge I've got after first term??
 
  • #10
I was actually curious to see what jackmell did since you two got the same result in Mathematica, even though you had changed your answer a few hours earlier.

I think it's just a typo in your book. To get their answer, you need to integrate \sqrt{x}y instead of \sqrt{xy}, and you can do that easily with a substitution.
 
  • #11
vela said:
Could you show us what you entered into Mathematica to get that result? In the second term, \sqrt{xy} is proportional to R as is dy, so that term should be proportional to R2.

Sorry about that. It's r^2:

Code:
Clear[r]
myval = Integrate[(-r^3)*Cos[t]^2*
     Sin[t] + r^2*Sqrt[Cos[t]*Sin[t]]*
     Cos[t], {t, Pi/2, 0}]
<br /> <br /> \int\limits_{AB} x^2 dx+ \sqrt{xy}dy =<br /> \frac{1}{24} \left(8 R^3-3 \sqrt{2} \pi R^2 \right) <br />

and that is consistent with the numerical results:

Code:
In[28]:=
N[(1/24)*r^2*(-3*Sqrt[2]*Pi + 8*r) /. 
   r -> 5]
r = 5; 
NIntegrate[(-r^3)*Cos[t]^2*Sin[t] + 
   r^2*Sqrt[Cos[t]*Sin[t]]*Cos[t], 
  {t, Pi/2, 0}]

Out[28]=
27.78265748492177

Out[30]=
27.78265752218859
 
Last edited:
  • #12
vela said:
I was actually curious to see what jackmell did since you two got the same result in Mathematica, even though you had changed your answer a few hours earlier.

I think it's just a typo in your book. To get their answer, you need to integrate \sqrt{x}y instead of \sqrt{xy}, and you can do that easily with a substitution.

Well, you mey be right, but on the other hand, a couple pages earlier, in a chapter about double integrals (volume, area etc.) they expect you to integrate
z=sin(\pi x y). After first integrating, let's say over y, you get \frac{cos(\pi x y)}{\pi x}, which again is imposiible to integrate in the meaning of finding an antiderivative. However, mathematica returns the same answer that thay gave in the book.
 

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