Volumn by cross sections - solving in terms of which axis confusion?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the volume of a solid generated by revolving a region bounded by the curves y = sqrt(x), x + y = 6, and y = 1 about the x-axis. Participants are exploring the appropriate method for setting up the integral to calculate this volume.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to find the intersections of the curves and considers integrating in terms of y to determine the area of the cross-section. They express confusion about how to formulate the volume integral when the area is defined in terms of y.
  • Some participants question the validity of the original poster's integral setup and suggest using a different volume element approach, indicating the need for clarity on the radius and length in the context of the volume calculation.
  • There is a repeated inquiry about the correctness of a proposed volume integral, reflecting uncertainty about the formulation.

Discussion Status

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the original poster may have miscategorized the thread in the forum, indicating a potential misunderstanding of the problem's complexity.

zeion
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Homework Statement



I need to find the volume of the solid generated by revolving this region bounded by the curves about the x-axis.

y = sqrt(x), x+y=6, y=1


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I find the intersections of these curves I get:

(1,1), (4,2), (5,1)..
Then I see that to get the area of this cross section I need to do two sections from x = 1 to x = 4, and x = 4 to x = 5 if I integrated in terms of x..

So I see that it will be easier to integrate in terms of y:

I will get the area to be

[tex] A(y) = \int_{1}^{2} [(-y+6)-(y^2)]dy[/tex]

But now I am confused as to how I can formulate the integral to find the volume of this by revolving around the x-axis?

I know I need to use the difference of the boundary as the radius then multiply by pi.. but I don't understand how to do that if I wrote the area in terms of y?
 
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Forget the integral you have. That just gives you the area of the region, which isn't what you want.

Your typical volume element is a shell whose volume is 2* pi*radius*length*[itex]\Delta y[/itex]. For your problem radius is y, and length is (6 - y - y2). The limits of integration are the ones you found, y = 1 and y = 2.

BTW, you should have put this into the Calculus and Beyond section, not the Precalcus section.
 
So can I do this to find the volume?

[tex] <br /> V = \int_{1}^{2} \pi[(-y+6)^2-(y^2)^2]dy<br /> [/tex]
 
zeion said:
So can I do this to find the volume?

[tex] <br /> V = \int_{1}^{2} \pi[(-y+6)^2-(y^2)^2]dy<br /> [/tex]
Reread what I wrote in post #2.
 

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