Surface Integral finding the limits

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves evaluating a surface integral over the surface defined by the equation z = x² + y², constrained by 0 ≤ z ≤ 4. The original poster is seeking to determine the appropriate limits for the surface integral.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand how to set the limits for the surface integral and considers using cylindrical coordinates but is unsure about the limits. Some participants suggest visualizing the region and using polar coordinates for easier integration.

Discussion Status

Participants have provided guidance on visualizing the region and suggested that the projection onto the x-y plane is a circle with radius 2. The original poster has made progress in determining the limits of integration in polar coordinates, and there is acknowledgment of correctness in their approach.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the need for understanding partial derivatives, which indicates a gap in the original poster's knowledge that may affect their comprehension of the problem.

Spout
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Homework Statement



I need to evaulate ∫ ∫S dS where S is the surface z = x² + y², 0 ≤ z ≤ 4.

Homework Equations



dS = √( 1 + ƒ²x + ƒ²y)dxdy

The Attempt at a Solution



dS = √( 1 + 4x² + 4y²)dxdy

here's the problem

what are the limits to the surface integral? no clue.. dx means i should find a limit for x but i see no obvious way to, also i could change this to cylindrical coordinates but still don't know what the limits would be.

∫ ∫ √( 1 + 4x² + 4y²)dxdy
 
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Hi Spout

The first thing you should do is draw the graph, which is a paraboloid.

Put z = 4 in the equation of the surface, S. You will get a circle with radius 2.

Since you are projecting onto the x-y plane, find ##z_x## and ##z_y## hence find the surface area:
$$\int \int \sqrt{(z_x)^2+(z_y)^2+1}\,.dxdy $$
Then, as the projection is a circle, it is easier to evaluate this double integral using polar coordinates.
 
Last edited:
This is quite embrassing but what does "Since you are projecting onto the x-y plane, find zx and zy hence find the surface area" mean

up to now i only know the process of solving these problems i don't know what partial derivative represents or means, so I'm unable to comprehend this sentence could you give a tiny bit of a hint :)?
 
When doing these, one crucial step that is often unavoidable is visualizing the region. I've thought about some ways to manipulate limits of integration without visualizing, but I think it would make things much harder. So you should learn to visualize the regions the describe.

You have a bowl shape that is parabolic (paraboloid is the term in this dimension), that is, consider the y=0 plane, then z=x^2 is parabolic (the term for curves). The bowl occupies space between z=0...4. At z=0, x and y must be zero. At the z=4 plane, you have the circle x^2+y^2=4, that is, radius 2. You had the right integrand, √(1+4x^2+4y^2) dxdy.

So to find the region that paramet(e)rizes the bowl via x and y, we need to know which values of x and y will garauntee we hit all points of the bowl exactly once. So that is the projection of the bowl down (and/or up) onto the xy plane. The projection is of course the disk, x^2+y^2≤ 4. The limits would be hard to integrate with, so our look would be much better if we use a change of coordinates, from rectangular to polar coordinate.

So we want to map from (x,y) to (r,θ). Then the integrand would be √(1+r^2), while dxdy becomes rdrdθ. Why don't you try to find out what the limits of integration would be.
 
I see

well I am guessing 0 ≤ r ≤ 2 because this covers the min and max radius

and 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2pi because this covers all points angular-ly

then the integral would be

∫(0 to 2pi) ∫(0 to 2) [ √( 1 + 4r²cos²θ + 4r²sin²θ) ] rdrdθ

∫(0 to 2pi) ∫(0 to 2) [ √( 1 + 4r²) ] rdrdθ

:)? amirite
 
it turned out correct, you guys are legends
 

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