II.

e Triple Integrals
We introduce triple integrals by once again considering a prototype problem.
Problem. Consider a solid E, as shown, with density (= mass/volume) = f(x, y, z).
Find the mass M of E.
y = (x) l
x
y
z
x = b
z = h (x , y)
x = a
y = k (x)
Answer. We apply the same general approach that we used for at plates, namely:
(1) decompose E into subregions, (2) calculate the mass of a subregion, (3) assemble
the subregions into slices and nd their mass, (4) assemble the slices to nd M, the
mass of E.
Now, when we did this for the plate, we used rectangular subregions of area
dx dy (later r dr d) and assembled these into strips running down to up (i.e., dy dx)
or left to right (i.e., dx dy). We decompose E into cubical subregions of volume
dx dy dz, of which one is shown in the picture. The mass of this is then
densityvolume = f(x, y, z) dx dy dz.
133
x
y
z
We next assemble the cubes into columns, and observe that this can be done in
three ways: up and down, in and out, left and right. The key is how the boundary
of E is given, since we need the equations for the start and stop of each column. In
this problem we assemble the cubes up and down, since then the top of any column
is z = h(x, y), while bottom is z = 0.
x
y
z
The mass of any column is then the sum (and limit) of the associated cubes, i.e.,
mass =
_
z=h(x,y)
z=0
f(x, y, z) dz dy dx.
We now assemble the columns into slices. Note that this can be done in two ways
(either dy dx or dx dy in this example). To decide which to choose, imagine we look
down on the solid. We see this:
134
y
x
dy
y = k (x)
x = b
x = a
l y = (x)
dx
where the rectangle shown is the base of typical column. We assemble the column
into slices, which in the case considered should be dy dx, since we know y as a
function of x. We then obtain
mass of a slice =
_
y=k(x)
y=(x)
_ _
h(x,y)
z=0
f(x, y, z) dz
_
dy dx.
Physically, this can be viewed as the mass of the piece of solid obtained by cutting
the solid at x and x + dx.
x
x
x + dx
z
y
Looking down, it is also the mass of the solid with base the strip shown:
135
y = k (x)
y
x
x
x + dx
l y = (x)
We now assemble all the slices to get the nal mass:
M =
_
x=b
x=a
_
k(x)
y=(x)
_
h(x,y)
z=0
f(x, y, z) dz dy dx.
Regardless of what f stood for physically, we write
___
E
f dV =
_
x=b
x=a
_
k(x)
y=(x)
_
h(x,y)
z=0
f(x, y, z) dz dy dx.
The symbol dV stands for dz dy dx or any other of the possible combinations:
dx dy dz, dx dz dy, dy dx dz, dy dz dx, dz dx dy which we may use, depending on
how the boundary of E is prescribed!
Before doing actual examples, we recall the following: Let m be the mass of
a particle located at (x, y, z). Then
M
xy
= 1st moment of the particle with respect to the (x, y) plane = mz
M
yz
= 1st moment of the particle with respect to the (y, z) plane = mx
M
xz
= 1st moment of the particle with respect to the (x, z) plane = my
I
x
= 2nd moment (moment of inertia) of the particle with respect to the x-axis
= m(y
2
+ z
2
)
I
y
= 2nd moment (moment of inertia) of the particle with respect to the y-axis
136
= m(x
2
+ z
2
)
I
z
= 2nd moment (moment of inertia) of the particle with respect to the z-axis
= m(x
2
+ y
2
).
We can use these formulas to calculate the center of mass of the solid E considered
earlier. Again decompose E into subregions dz dy dx, just as before. Then M
xy
for
a subregion
= z
..
arm
f(x, y, z) dz dy dx
. .
mass
and for a column,
M
xy
=
_
h(x,y)
z=0
z f(x, y, z) dz dy dx,
for a slice,
M
xy
=
_
k(x)
y=(x)
_
h(x,y)
z=0
z f(x, y, z) dz dy dx.
So that nally,
M
xy
=
_
b
x=a
_
k(x)
y=(x)
_
h(x,y)
z=0
z f(x, y, z) dz dy dx.
In the same way: M
xz
has y f(x, y, z) dz dy dx and M
yz
has x f(x, y, z) dz dy dx in
place of z f(x, y, z) dz dy dx, since the lever arms are dierent. Finally, the center
of mass of D has coordinates,
x =
M
yz
M
, y =
M
xz
M
, z =
M
xy
M
,
which, if f is constant, are the same as for the centroid.
Remark. Make sure that (x, y, z) you obtain are physically reasonable!
137
We now pass to examples.
Example 1. Evaluate
___
E
z dV where E is the solid in the rst octant bounded
by the coordinate planes: x = 0, y = 0, z = 0 and the plane x + y + z = 1.
Answer. Note that
___
E
and dV stand for any one of the 6 possible arrange-
ments of dx, dy, dz, i.e., for any of the possible ways in which the cubes may be
assembled. We begin with a sketch. This should be good enough to enable us to
nd the limits of integration. Our solid is the tetrahedron indicated. We decompose
it into cubes, and nd zdV = z dx dy dz.
x
y
z
x + z = 1
y + z = 1
x + y = 1
x + y + z = 1
Note that the plane x+y +z = 1 can be expressed as z = 1 xy or x = 1 z y
or y = 1z x. We thus have the luxury (usually not available) of assembling how
we want!
We next arrange the cubes into columns running up and down and get
_ _
1xy
z=0
z dz
_
dy dx.
We next look down on the solid and see a triangle:
138
x
x + y = 1
y
We arrange the columns into slices, which we choose as shown. This gives
_
1x
y=0
_ _
1xy
z=0
z dz
_
dy dx.
Finally, we assemble the slices and get
___
E
z dV =
_
1
x=0
_ _
1x
y=0
_ _
1xy
z=0
z dz
_
dy
_
dx
which we now evaluate.
___
E
z dV =
_
1
x=0
_
1x
y=0
(1 x y)
2
2
dy dx =
1
2
_
1
x=0
_
(1 x y)
3
3

1x
y=0
_
dx
=
1
6
_
1
x=0
(1 x)
3
dx =
1
6
_
(1 x)
4
4
_
1
0
=
1
6

1
4
=
1
24
.
To practice, let us compute this by assembling the cubes dierently. As mentioned
above, we can do this in our case. Again start with the cube: dx dy dz but now look
at the solid so that the x-axis pokes you in the eye.
139
x
y
z
x = 1 - z - y
eye
We again see a triangle, now in the (z, y) plane, and assemble the cubes into columns
which run in and out.
y + z = 1
z
y
The integral of a column of base area dy dz is then
__
1zy
x=0
z dx
_
dy dz.
We assemble the columns into slices (up and down in the (z, y) plane) and get
_
1y
z=0
__
1zy
x=0
z dx
_
dz.
Finally, we assemble the slices to get
_
1
y=0
_ _
1y
z=0
__
1zy
x=0
z dx
_
dz
_
dy.
140
We check that this gives the same result as before. Now
_
1
y=0
_ _
1y
z=0
__
1zy
x=0
z dx
_
dz
_
dy
=
_
1
y=0
__
1y
z=0
z(1 z y) dz
_
dy
=
_
1
y=0
_ _
z
2
2

z
3
3

yz
2
2
_

1y
z=0
_
dy
=
_
1
y=0
_
(1 y)
2
2

(1 y)
3
3

y(1 y)
2
2
_
dy
=
(1 y)
3
3 2
+
(1 y)
4
4 3

y
2
4
+
y
3
3

y
4
8

1
0
=
_

1
4
+
1
3

1
8
_

1
6
+
1
12
_
=
1
3

3
8
+
1
12
=
1
24
,
just as before! Note that we could do this problem the other four (remaining) ways.
Then answer, of course, would always be the same.
Example 2. Set up but do not evaluate the triple integral for the mass M of the
solid bounded by the surface z = 1 x
2
y
2
and the xy plane, if the density is
f(x, y, z) = x + 1.
Answer. Again we start with a cube whose mass is (x + 1) dx dy dz.
x
y
z
x + y = 1
2 2
z = 1 - x - y
2 2
141
We note that the curved part of the boundary is z = 1 x
2
y
2
, so we assemble
the cubes into columns running up and down (here we have little practical choice!).
The mass of a column is then
_
1x
2
y
2
z=0
(x + 1) dz dx dy.
x + y = 1
y
x
2 2
The mass of a slice is
_

1x
2
y=

1x
2
__
1x
2
y
2
z=0
(x + 1) dz
_
dy dx
and the total mass integral is
M =
_
1
x=1
__

1x
2
y=

1x
2
__
1x
2
y
2
z=0
(x + 1) dz
_
dy
_
dx.
Example 3. Find the mass and the center of mass of the solid bounded by x =
4 y
2
z
2
, the xyz plane and the planes y = 0, y = 1, z = 0, z = 1 if the density
is constant (= k).
Answer. In this case the curved part of the boundary is of type x = f(y, z) so we
assemble the cubes into columns running in and out.
142
y + z = 4
2 2
x
y
z
z = 1
y = 1
2 2
x = 4 - y - z
Mass of a column =
_
4y
2
z
2
x=0
k dx dz dy.
Note that the base of our solid is a rectangle and we get
z
y
(1 , 1)
Mass =
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
_
4y
2
z
2
x=0
k dx dz dy
=
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
k(4 y
2
z
2
) dz dy
=
_
1
y=0
k
_
4 y
2

1
3
_
dy = k
_
11
3

1
3
_
= k
_
10
3
_
.
Next,
M
yz
=
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
_
4y
2
z
2
x=0
kx dx dz dy
143
=
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
k
2
(4 y
2
z
2
)
2
dz dy
=
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
k
2
[(4 y
2
)
2
2(4 y
2
)z
2
+ z
4
] dz
=
_
1
y=0
k
2
_
(4 y
2
)
2

2(4 y
2
)
3
+
1
5
_
dy
=
_
1
y=0
k
2
_
16 8y
2
+ y
4

8
3
+
2y
2
3
+
1
5
_
dy
=
k
2
_
16
8
3
+
1
5

8
3
+
2
9
+
1
5
_
=
k
2
_
16
16
3
+
2
5
+
2
9
_
= k
_
254
45
_
,
M
xy
=
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
_
4y
2
z
2
x=0
kz dx dz dy
=
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
kz(4 y
2
z
2
) dz dy
=
_
1
y=0
k
_
2
y
2
2

1
4
_
dy = k
_
2
1
6

1
4
_
= k
_
19
12
_
,
M
xz
=
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
_
4y
2
z
2
x=0
ky dx dz dy
=
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
ky(4 y
2
z
2
) dz dy
=
_
1
y=0
ky
_
4 y
2

1
3
_
dy = k
_
2
1
4

1
6
_
= k
_
19
12
_
.
So
x =
254
45

3
10
, y =
19
12

3
10
, z =
19
12

3
10
.
Example 4. Find the mass of the solid which is bounded above by the plane
z = y + 1, below by the plane z = 2, and on the side by the cylinder x
2
+ y
2
= 1
144
if the density (x, y, z) = 2 + y. We repeat the procedures from before.
y
x
x + y = 1
2 2
x
y
z
x + y = 1
z = - 2
2 2
z = 1 + y
Note that the columns begin on the bottom surface, i.e., at z = 2. We then have
M =
_
1
x=1
_

1x
2
y=

1x
2
_
1+y
z=2
(2 + y) dz dy dx
=
_
1
x=1
_

1x
2
y=

1x
2
(2 + y)(3 + y) dy dx
=
_
1
x=1
_
6y +
5y
2
2
+
y
3
3
_

1x
2

1x
2
dx
=
_
1
1
_
12
_
1 x
2
+
2
3
(1 x
2
)
3/2
_
dx.
We now change variables to remove the square roots. Put x = sin (actually
= sin
1
x) so dx = cos d and we get
M =
_
/2
/2
_
12

cos
2
+
2
3
(

cos
2
)
3
_
cos d.
Now since = sin
1
x,

cos
2
= | cos | = cos and thus
M =
_
/2
/2
_
12 cos
2
+
2
3
cos
4

_
d
=
_
/2
/2
_
6[1 + cos 2] +
1
6
[1 + cos 2]
2
_
d
145
=
_
/2
/2
_
6[1 + cos 2] +
1
6
_
1 + 2 cos 2 +
1 + cos 4
2
__
d
= 6 +
1
6

3
2
= 6 +

4
.
The work we had to do was mostly due to the trigonometric substitutions. And
yet, recall that, at one stage we had:
M =
_
1
x=1
_

1x
2
y=

1x
2
(2 + y)(3 + y) dy dx.
Suppose we change this to polar coordinates. We then get
M =
_
2
=0
_
1
r=0
(2 + r sin )(3 + r sin ) r dr d
=
_
2
=0
_
1
r=0
[6 + 5r sin + r
2
sin
2
] r dr d
=
_
2
=0
_
3r
2
+
5
3
r
3
sin +
r
4
4
sin
2

1
0
d
=
_
2
=0
_
3 +
5
3
sin +
1
4
_
1 cos 2
2
__
d
=
_
3 +
1
8
_
2 = 6 +

4
.
What this shows is that when circles are involved in the problem we should
considereven if we do not have tousing (r, , z) instead of (x, y, z) in order to
simplify the integrals. We are thus led to the next topic.
146
Further Exercises:
Evaluate the integrals.
1)
_
1
0
_
y
0
_
x
0
zxy dz dx dy.
2)
_
1
0
_
1
0
_
z
2
+y
2
0
x dx dy dz.
3) Change the order of integration and evaluate
_
1
y=0
_
1
z=0
_
1
x=z
e
x
2
dx dz dy.
4) Calculate the volume of the region bounded by the surfaces y = x
2
+ z
2
and
x + y = 1.
5) Find the centroid of the solid bounded by the planes x = 1, x = 1, y = 1,
y = 1, z = 0, z = 2 + x + y if the density is constant.
6) Find the coordinates of the radius of gyration for the solid of example 2.
7) Calculate the volume of the wedge in the rst octant, bounded by the surfaces
z = 0, x = 0, y = 0, y = 1, x + y = 1.
8) Calculate the center of mass of the solid bounded by the planes z = 0, x+y =
1, y x = 1, x = 0, x = 1 if the density is constant.
9) Find the volume enclosed by the surfaces z = x
2
, z = 1x
2
, y = 2, y = 3.
10) Find the volume of the solid bounded by z = |x| +|y| and z = 1.
147