Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Double Integrals as Surface Area

Let f be a continuous function over R, and f has partial derivatives f x and f y , then the
area of surface S is given by:
Surface Area dS ( f x )2 ( f y ) 2 1dA
R

Where dA can be dxdy , dydx or rdrd .

Similarly, instead of the projection on xy-plane, we can extend the projection to xzplane and yz-plane, where:
xz-plane
Surface Area dS ( f x )2 1 ( f z ) 2 dA
R

where y f ( x, z ) and dA can be dxdz , dzdx or rdrd .

yz-plane
Surface Area dS 1 ( f y )2 ( f z ) 2 dA
R

where x f ( y, z ) and dA can be dydz , dzdy or rdrd .

Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Example 1
Find the surface area of the portion of the curve f ( x, y) x y 6 over the region
R {( x, y) | 0 x 1,0 y 1} .

Solution
The required surface area S is shown in the following figure.

f ( x, y) x y 6

1
1

Given that f ( x, y) x y 6 ; hence, f x 1 and f y 1

Surface Area, S dS
R

( f x ) 2 ( f y ) 2 1dA
R
1 1

(1) 2 (1) 2 1dydx

0 0
1

3 y 0 dx
1

0
1

3dx
0

3x0
1

Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Example 2
Find the surface area of the portion of the paraboloid z 4 x 2 y 2 over the xy-plane.
Solution
The required surface area S is shown in the following diagram.

z
4

z 4 x2 y 2

When z = 0 (xy-plane), the region R is a circle x 2 y 2 4 , with inequalities

2 x 2 and 4 x2 y 4 x 2 .

y 4 x2

R
2
y 4 x2
f ( x, y ) 4 x 2 y 2
f x 2 x, f y 2 y
Surface Area, S dS
R

( f x )2 ( f y ) 2 1dA
R

Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

2
2 y 4 x

(2 x) 2 (2 y ) 2 1dydx

2 y 4 x 2
2
2 y 4 x

4 x 2 4 y 2 1dydx

2 y 4 x 2
2
2 y 4 x

4( x 2 y 2 ) 1dydx

2 y 4 x 2

By polar coordinates, 0 r 2 0 2 , and x 2 y 2 r 2

Hence,
2 2

4r 2 1rdrd

0 0

3
1
(4r 2 1) 2 d
12
o
0
2

2
1

17
1d
12 0
3
1
(17 2 1)
12
3
1
(17 2 1)
6

2
0

Using substitution:

u r2
du 2rdr
du
rdr
2

4r 2 1rdr 4u 1

3
1 2 1
4u 1 2
2 3 4
3
1
4r 2 1 2
12

du
2