# Volume of n-dimensional sphere

1. Jul 25, 2005

### rocket

let $$B_n(r) = \{x \epsilon R^n| |x| \le r\}$$ be the sphere around the origin of radius r in $$R^n.$$ let $$V_n(r) = \int_{B_n(r)} dV$$ be the volume of $$B_n(r)$$.

a)show that $$V_n(r) = r^n * V_n(1)$$
b)write $$B_n(1)$$ as $$I*J(x) * B_{n-2}(x,y),$$ where I is a fixed interval for the variable x, J an interval for y dependent on x, and $$B_{n-2}(x,y)$$ a ball in $$R^{n-2}$$ with a radius dependent on x and y. set up an integral to allow for use of fubini's theorem in order to find $$V_n(1)$$in terms of $$V_{n-2}(1)$$.

for a), I assume that $$V_n(r)$$ is proportional to $$r^n$$. So $$V_n(r) = C*r^n$$where C is a constant. $$V_n(1) = C*(1)^n = C$$. we have the equation

$$V_n(1) / V_n(r) = C / C * r^n$$
$$V_n(1) / V_n(r) = 1 / r^n$$
$$V_n(r) = r^n * V_n(1)$$which completes the proof.

the only problem is, i don't know how to prove the assumption i used - that $$V_n(r)$$ is proportional to $$r^n$$. I know that $$V_1(r) = 2 * r^1 = 2r, V_2(r) = \pi * r^2, and V_3(r) = 4/3 * \pi * r^3$$, which is how i guessed the assumption in the first place, but I don't know how to prove it holds true for $$V_n(r)$$. I tried using induction but I don't know what is $$V_{n+1}(r)$$ in terms of $$V_n(r)$$. My instructor suggested that we set up an integral and use a change of variables of some sort. I was wondering how would I set up an integral to find the volume of a sphere in n-dimensions.

i'm having alot of trouble understanding b). the bounds of the triple integral would be as follows: the interval for x would be [-1,1] for a sphere centered on the origin, since we're dealing with a radius of 1. the interval for y would be $$[\sqrt{1-x^2}, -\sqrt{1-x^2}]$$. But I don't understand how to derive the bounds for $$B_{n-2}(x,y)$$. Also, how do we find what function over which to integrate?

2. Jul 25, 2005

### CarlB

I assume you're defining $$V_n(r)$$ as an integral over a volume, where r gives the radius. Fix n. Given r, you can recalculate the integral to be a constant times $$V_1(r)$$ by making a variable change $$x_k <= r x_k'$$ for $$1 \leq k \leq n$$. The constant is your $$r^n$$ factor.

Carl