Showing an iterated integral is equal to an integral

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Your limits of integration for the dx integration will be constants (not functions of x).In summary, the problem involves using Fubini's theorem to rewrite a complicated triple integral into an iterated integral with simpler limits of integration. The domain of integration is a tetrahedron, and the key is to rewrite the triple integral so that the dx integration is last. This will give the correct limits for the dy and dz integrations, and the limits for the dx integration will be constants.
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Ultramilk
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Homework Statement



Let f be continuous. Show

[itex]^{1}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{y}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{z}_{0}∫[/itex] f(x) dx dz dy = [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] [itex]^{1}_{0}∫[/itex] (1-x)[itex]^{2}[/itex] f(x) dx

Hint: Use Fubini to rewrite the left expression into an iterated integral which ends in dx.

Homework Equations



Fubini's Theorem:
∫∫∫[itex]_{B}[/itex] f(x,y,z) dV = [itex]^{s}_{r}∫[/itex][itex]^{d}_{c}∫[/itex] [itex]^{b}_{ra}∫[/itex] f(x,y,z) dxdydz

The Attempt at a Solution



So I've been playing around with this problem for a little bit and I'm stumped.
Fubini's theorem is the theorem that states that if f is continuous then you can treat each integral as it's own separate entity right?

So with constants, yea this would be pretty simple, but two of the ends we're measuring at are variables (namely the z and y).

Well, I tried following the hint and using Fubini's theorem and I got

[itex]^{z}_{0}∫[/itex][itex]^{1}_{0}∫[/itex][itex]^{y}_{0}∫[/itex]f(x) dz dy dx
which if you work it out, becomes
[itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex][itex]^{z}_{0}∫[/itex]f(x)dx, which I don't know how to have equal to
[itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] [itex]^{1}_{0}∫[/itex] (1-x)[itex]^{2}[/itex] f(x) dx

Now, I think/know this is wrong. It's probably because I didn't use Fubini's theorem right or adjust the limits correctly (although involving problems with constant number values, that's what I did).

Homework Statement


Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution

 
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  • #2
Well, this is weird.
It's not letting me edit my problem. But here's the latest update to what I have done.

Well I "cheated."
But I substituted s for f(x).

So instead of [itex]^{1}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{y}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{z}_{0}∫[/itex] f(x) dx dz dy
it's
[itex]^{1}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{y}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{z}_{0}∫[/itex] s dx dz dy

that way I followed through on the integral, and it became [itex]\frac{1}{6}[/itex] s or [itex]\frac{1}{6}[/itex] f(x) if you decide to substitute s back for f(x).
And that's the exact thing you get with the right hand side as well.

I'm not sure if that's formal enough for showing.
 
  • #3
Ultramilk said:
Well, this is weird.
It's not letting me edit my problem. But here's the latest update to what I have done.

Well I "cheated."
But I substituted s for f(x).

So instead of [itex]^{1}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{y}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{z}_{0}∫[/itex] f(x) dx dz dy
it's
[itex]^{1}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{y}_{0}∫[/itex] [itex]^{z}_{0}∫[/itex] s dx dz dy

that way I followed through on the integral, and it became [itex]\frac{1}{6}[/itex] s or [itex]\frac{1}{6}[/itex] f(x) if you decide to substitute s back for f(x).
And that's the exact thing you get with the right hand side as well.

I'm not sure if that's formal enough for showing.

That's only going to work if f(x) is a constant (like s). It's not going to work for a general function of x. You want visualize the domain of integration. It's a tetrahedron, right? Now rewrite the triple integral so the dx integration is last. See if you can get the correct limits for the dy and dz integrations.
 

FAQ: Showing an iterated integral is equal to an integral

What is an iterated integral?

An iterated integral is a mathematical concept in integral calculus where a double or triple integral is expressed as a sequence of repeated integrations, with each integration being performed one variable at a time.

How do you show that an iterated integral is equal to an integral?

To show that an iterated integral is equal to an integral, we need to use the fundamental theorem of calculus, which states that the integral of a function can be calculated by finding its antiderivative and evaluating it at the upper and lower limits of integration.

What are the steps to solve an iterated integral?

The steps to solve an iterated integral are as follows:

  1. Identify the limits of integration for each variable.
  2. Rewrite the integral in terms of one variable, using the limits of integration.
  3. Integrate the innermost integral first, treating all other variables as constants.
  4. Continue integrating the remaining integrals, one variable at a time.
  5. Evaluate the final integral at the original limits of integration.

Can an iterated integral be solved in any order?

Yes, an iterated integral can be solved in any order, as long as the limits of integration remain the same. However, some orders may be more efficient or easier to solve than others.

What is the benefit of using an iterated integral instead of a single integral?

An iterated integral allows us to solve for the integral of a function over a two or three-dimensional region, which cannot be done with a single integral. Additionally, it can often be easier to solve an iterated integral by breaking it down into smaller, simpler integrals.

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