Volume integral of a function over tetrahedron

Tags:
1. Jan 19, 2016

physkim

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Calculate the volume integral of the function $$f(x,y,z)=xyz^2$$
over the tetrahedron with corners at $$(0,0,1) (1,0,0) (0,1,0) (0,0,1)$$
2. Relevant equations
I was able to solve it mathematically, but still cant figure out why the answer is so small.
I only understand that if f(x,y,z) is the density, then the triple integral is the mass.
What is the physical significance for calculating the volume integral of an arbitrary function over a geometrical shape?

3. The attempt at a solution

$$\int_{0}^{1} \int_{0}^{1-y} \int_{0}^{1-x-y} xyz^2 dz dx dy =\frac{1}{2520}$$

2. Jan 19, 2016

blue_leaf77

I think one of those points should be the origin.
It just means you are summing the value of the function at every point within the specified volume.
For now I assume that your calculation hides no mistake. The minuscule value of the integral might be caused by the behavior of your $f(x,y,z)$ within the specified tetrahedron. Look, the biggest value of either $x$, $y$, and $z$ within this tetrahedron is unity, therefore $f(x,y,z)=xyz^2$ cannot be bigger than unity (although I haven't calculated what the maximum value is, but certainly the maximum value cannot be bigger than 1). In fact, the values of coordinates are multiplied in $f(x,y,z)$ which makes this function sufficiently small if you remember that multiplication between two or more numbers gives a number which is smaller than the smallest number being multiplied.

3. Jan 19, 2016

physkim

Yes, sorry, I made a mistake while typing.

You are right! the answer is so small because I am multiplying a fraction to a fraction and again to a fraction squared.

So there is no specific physical significance (I am asking this because this is a problem from my EM Theory assignment), only pure mathematical calculation? I should simply treat this integral as a mathematical problem, rather than trying to combine it with physical quantities?