Triple Integral: Convert from Cartesian to Cylindrical Coordinates

In summary, daveyman found that the integral in cylindrical coordinates isr=\sqrt{18-x^2} which yields the correct answer.
  • #1
daveyman
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0

Homework Statement


This is my last question about triple integrals in cylindrical coordinates.

Evaluate the integral by changing to cylindrical coordinates:

[tex]\int _{-3}^3\int _0^{\sqrt{9-x^2}}\int _0^{9-x^2-y^2}\sqrt{x^2+y^2}dzdydx[/tex]


Homework Equations


In cylindrical coordinates, [tex]x^2+y^2=r^2[/tex] and [tex]x=r\cos{\theta}[/tex].


The Attempt at a Solution


My converted integral looks like this:

[tex]\int _0^{\pi }\int _0^{\sqrt{\frac{18}{1+\text{Cos}[\theta ]^2}}}\int _0^{9-r^2}r^2dzdrd\theta [/tex]

This isn't quite right. Any ideas?
 
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  • #2
Hi daveyman! :smile:

Hint: If |x| ≤ 3 and |y|2 ≤ 9 - x2, then … r what, and θ what? :wink:
 
  • #3
[tex]r=\sqrt{18-x^2}[/tex] which, in cylindrical coordinates is [tex]r=\sqrt{18-r^2\cos^2 \theta}[/tex].

So would the new integral be

[tex]\int _0^{\pi }\int _0^{\sqrt{18-r^2*\text{Cos}[\theta ]^2}}\int _0^{9-r^2}r^2dzdrd\theta [/tex]?
 
  • #4
daveyman said:
[tex]r=\sqrt{18-x^2}[/tex] which, in cylindrical coordinates is [tex]r=\sqrt{18-r^2\cos^2 \theta}[/tex].

So would the new integral be

[tex]\int _0^{\pi }\int _0^{\sqrt{18-r^2*\text{Cos}[\theta ]^2}}\int _0^{9-r^2}r^2dzdrd\theta [/tex]?

No!

Get some graph paper and shade in all the points for which |x| ≤ 3 and |y|² ≤ 9 - x².​
 
  • #5
tiny-tim said:
No!

Get some graph paper and shade in all the points for which |x| ≤ 3 and |y|² ≤ 9 - x².​

It is a circle at the origin with radius of three. So the integral will be

[tex]\int _0^{\pi }\int _0^3\int _0^{9-r^2}r^2dzdrd\theta[/tex]

which yields the correct answer.

Thank you!
 
  • #6
daveyman said:
It is a circle at the origin with radius of three. So the integral will be

[tex]\int _0^{\pi }\int _0^3\int _0^{9-r^2}r^2dzdrd\theta[/tex]

which yields the correct answer.

Yup! :biggrin:

The moral of this … always draw the region first …

it's almost impossible to work out the limits without a diagram

(though of course, you must then prove them without a diagram … but that's much easier once the diagram has told you the answer! :wink:)​
 
  • #7
Hey- I know this is quite an old thread... But just wondering how you know that the dθ part is between 0 and pi??
Cheers
 

FAQ: Triple Integral: Convert from Cartesian to Cylindrical Coordinates

1. What is a triple integral?

A triple integral is a mathematical concept that involves calculating the volume of a three-dimensional space. It is similar to a regular integral, which calculates the area under a curve, but instead calculates the volume under a surface or solid.

2. What are Cartesian coordinates?

Cartesian coordinates are a system of representing points in a two or three-dimensional space using numerical values along three perpendicular axes. The axes are typically labeled as x, y, and z, and the coordinates are written as (x,y,z). This system is named after the mathematician René Descartes.

3. What are cylindrical coordinates?

Cylindrical coordinates are another system for representing points in three-dimensional space. They use a combination of a distance from the origin, an angle around the z-axis, and a height along the z-axis to describe a point. The coordinates are written as (r,θ,z) and are often used in situations where there is cylindrical symmetry.

4. How do you convert from Cartesian to cylindrical coordinates?

To convert from Cartesian to cylindrical coordinates, you can use the following formulas: r = √(x² + y²), θ = tan^-1(y/x), z = z. This means that the distance from the origin (r) is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the x and y coordinates, the angle (θ) is equal to the inverse tangent of the y and x coordinates, and the z coordinate remains the same.

5. When would you use cylindrical coordinates in a triple integral?

Cylindrical coordinates are often used in situations where there is cylindrical symmetry, such as calculating the volume of a cylinder or cone. They can also be useful when the boundaries of a three-dimensional shape are defined by circular or cylindrical surfaces. In these cases, it may be easier to set up and solve a triple integral using cylindrical coordinates rather than Cartesian coordinates.

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