Surface Area Multiple Integrals problem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the surface area of parametrized surfaces using multiple integrals. The original poster presents two problems involving vector equations and surface equations, seeking clarification on their approaches and calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to find the area of a surface given by a vector equation and another surface defined by a function. They express uncertainty about their calculations and the correctness of their answers.
  • Some participants provide guidance on the process of finding tangent vectors and the area of the surface through integration, while others question the original poster's calculations and suggest alternative methods.
  • There is a discussion about the correctness of the computed values for the surface area, with participants revisiting their calculations and expressing doubt about previous assertions.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants actively engaging in clarifying the methods for calculating surface areas. Some have provided alternative approaches and corrections to earlier statements, while others continue to seek confirmation on their results. There is no clear consensus yet on the final answers for the problems presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of homework assignments, which may limit the information they can share or the methods they can use. The discussion includes various interpretations of the problems and the mathematical principles involved.

Zonda
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Hi,
I need some help on these problems. I'm not sure what to do.

1 Find the area of the plane with vector equation r(u, v) =< 1+v, u-2v, 3-5u+v> that is given by 0<u<1, 0<v<1.

So far, I took the partial derivatives with respect to u and v. I don't know if I was supposed to or not and I'm really stuck there.

Since I'm trying to find surface area a relevant equation may be S = (double integral) SQRT(1 + (partial derivative of u)^2 + (partial derivative of v)^2) dA

2. The part of the surface z = 1 + 3x +2y^2 that lies above the triangle with vertices (0,0), (0,1), (2,1)

Relevant equation should be same as above.

I think I got the answer but I'm not sure and would really appreciate some help if I got it wrong.
Here's how I did it:
partial x: 3 Partial y: 4y
The boundary of the triangle is x=2y
so it took the integral from 0 to 1 and from 0 to 2y SQRT(10 + 16y^2)dx dy
and I got the integral from 0 to 1 times 2y SQRT(10 +16y^2) dy
then I took that integral and got (2/3)*(2/32)*SQRT(10 + 16Y^2)^(3/2) from 0 to 1
My final answer is (1/24)(26)^(3/2) - (1/24)(10)^(3/2)

Is this correct?
 
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Remember that when you parametrize a surface, tangent vectors are gained by differentiating with respect to the two independent variables.
Let us take the general case.

Suppose you have a surface S parametrized as
\vec{S}(u,v)=(X(u,v),Y(u,v),Z(u,v))
Then, two infinitesemal tangent vectors to this surface are given by:
d\vec{t}_{u}=\frac{\partial\vec{S}}{\partial{u}}du,d\vec{t}_{v}=\frac{\partial\vec{S}}{\partial{v}}dv
The differential area spanned by these two vectors lies on S, and its area is given by:
dA=||d\vec{n}_{S}||=||d\vec{t}_{u}\times{d}\vec{t}_{v}||=||\frac{\partial\vec{S}}{\partial{u}}\times\frac{\partial\vec{S}}{\partial{v}}||dudv
And the total area of S is then gained by summing together all dA's (i.e, by integration).

Thus, yes, you have thought correctly on 1.
 
The answer I got for number 1 is SQRT (107), is this correct?

What about number 2?
 
Hmm..I have to retract what I said about you having thought correctly on 1.

What you have written is totally meaningless!

Follow what I wrote in my post:
\frac{\partial\vec{r}}{\partial{u}}=\vec{j}-5\vec{k},\frac{\partial\vec{r}}{\partial{v}}=\vec{i}-2\vec{j}+\vec{k}
Thus, the norm of the cross product is:
||\frac{\partial\vec{r}}{\partial{u}}\times\frac{\partial\vec{r}}{\partial{v}}||=\sqrt{62}
and since both u and v varies between 0 and 1, \sqrt{62} is the correct answer.
 
I still get SQRT (107). Are you sure about SQRT(62)?
 
Hmm..perhaps not. Made a too fast calculation. Sorry about that. square root of 107 it is.
 
Thanks! What about number 2?
 
arildno said:
Hmm..I have to retract what I said about you having thought correctly on 1.

What you have written is totally meaningless!

Follow what I wrote in my post:
\frac{\partial\vec{r}}{\partial{u}}=\vec{j}-5\vec{k},\frac{\partial\vec{r}}{\partial{v}}=\vec{i}-2\vec{j}+\vec{k}
Thus, the norm of the cross product is:
||\frac{\partial\vec{r}}{\partial{u}}\times\frac{\partial\vec{r}}{\partial{v}}||=\sqrt{62}
and since both u and v varies between 0 and 1, \sqrt{62} is the correct answer.
?
\left|\begin{array}{ccc}i &amp; j &amp; k \\ 0 &amp; 1 &amp; -5 \\ 1 &amp; -2 &amp; 1\end{array}\right|= i\left|\begin{array}{cc}1 &amp; -5 \\ -2 &amp; 1\end{array}\right|- j\left|\begin{array}{cc}0 &amp; -5 \\1 &amp; 1\end{array}\right|+ k\left|\begin{array}{cc} 0 &amp; 1 \\ 1 &amp; -2\end{array}\right|
= -9 i- 5j - k
which has length \sqrt{81+25+1}= \sqrt{107}
 
Indeed, it is.
However, as I made the mental calculation (-5)*(-2)=-5, so that the i'th component became -6 rather than -9, I got 62 as my radicand rather than 107.
 
Last edited:
  • #10
You are starting to take after me. That is NOT a good sign!
 
  • #11
Yes, the answer to (1) is \sqrt{107}

For (2): The part of the surface z = 1 + 3x +2y^2 that lies above the triangle with vertices (0,0), (0,1), (2,1)

Pretty much the same thing. You can write this as x= u, y= v, z= 1+ 3u+ 2v2, basically using x and y as parameters, so that r= ui+ vj+ (1+ 3u+ 2v2)k. Find ru, rv[/sup] and take their cross product. Integrate over the triangle (which has sides x= 0, y= 1, and y= (1/2)x).
 
  • #12
Another way for 1:

The surface you're looking for is a parallelogram with vertices at r(0,0), r(1,0), r(0,1) and r(1,1). So two of its non-parallel sides are given by r(1,0)-r(0,0) and r(0,1)-r(0,0). Find the norm of the cross product of these two vectors:

|| [r(1,0)-r(0,0)] x [r(0,1)-r(0,0)] ||

and this will be the desired area.
 
  • #13
Thanks for your help!
 

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