Transforming Limits of Integration for Variable Substitution

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the limits of integration for a triple integral involving a solid defined by an ellipsoid equation. The original poster attempts to apply a variable substitution to transform the integral but encounters difficulties in determining the appropriate limits for the new variables.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of spherical coordinates as an alternative to the current variable substitution. There is a suggestion to project the solid onto different planes to derive limits of integration for the variables u, v, and w.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to establish the limits of integration through geometric projections and the use of spherical coordinates. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity involved in determining these limits, but no consensus has been reached on a single method.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the methods they can explore. The discussion includes considerations of the geometric properties of the solid defined by the ellipsoid equation.

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Homework Statement


\int\int\int _E\(x^2y}\;dV

Where E is the solid bounded by x^2/a^2+y^2/b^2+z^2/c^2=1


Homework Equations



variable substitution x=au, y=bv, z=cw.

The Attempt at a Solution



I found the jacobian (abc) and I substituted my variables but I can't find the limits of integration. The only equation I have for the limits is u^2+v^2+w^2\leq1. I don't know how to find the limits of integration for u, v, and w individually.
 
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Now switch to spherical coordinates in u,v,w.
 
First decide on the order in which you want do integrate:
\int dudvdw?

Fine. Project the figure on to the vw plane: v2+ w2= 1. Then project that onto the w line: the segment from w= -1 to 1. The limits on the outer "dw" integral have to be numbers. In order to cover the entire figure, w must vary from -1 to 1. For each w, then v must vary from -\sqrt{1- w^2} to \sqrt{1- w^2}. Finally, for each v and w, u varies from -\sqrt{1- v^2- w^2} to \sqrt{1- v^2- w^2}. Those are the limits of integration.

Of course, because u2+ v2+ w2= 1 is a sphere in uvw-space, spherical coordinates, as Dick suggested, are simplest. The limits of integration would be exactly the same as if it were x2+ y2+ z2= 1.
 
oh, ok thanks i didn't even think about switching to polor coordinates.
 

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