Triple Integral
Consider a function f ( x, y, z ) defined at every point of a region V in the space.
To define the triple integral of f(x, y, z ) over the region R, divide V into n
elementary regions having volumes V1 , V2 ,..., Vn . Let ( xr , yr , zr ) be any point
n
within the r sub-division Vr . Then the limit of the sum
th
f ( x , y , z )V , if it
r 1
r r r r
exists, as n and maximum of Vr 0 is called the triple integral of
f ( x, y, z ) over the region V and is denoted by
V
f ( x, y, z )dV .
n
Thus V
f ( x, y, z )dV =
n
lim f ( xr , yr , zr )Vr
Max Vr 0 r 1
Volume as triple integral:
Divide the given solid by planes parallel to the co-ordinate planes into
rectangular parallelepipeds of volume x y z .
Therefore, the total volume is Lt x y z dxdydz with
x , y , z 0
appropriate limits of integration.
Properties of the Triple integrals
1) If f ( x, y, z ) and g ( x, y, z ) are functions of x ,y and z defined over V , c1
and c2 are constants, then
(c f ( x, y, z) c g ( x, y, z)) dV c
V 1 2 1 V
f ( x, y, z )dV c2 g ( x, y, z )dV
V
2) If the region V is the union of two non-overlapping regions V1 and V2 i.e.
V V1 V2 , then
V
f ( x, y, z )dV f ( x, y, z )dV1 f ( x, y , z )dV2
V1 V2
3) Volume of the region V = V
dV
4) V
f ( x, y, z)dxdydz f ( cos , sin , z) d d dz
V
where ( , , z ) are the cylindrical polar coordinates of (x,y,z).
V
f ( x, y, z)dxdydz f (r sin cos, sin sin , r cos )r 2 sin drd d
V
where (r , , ) are the spherical polar coordinates of (x,y,z).
Evaluation of triple integrals
Let the elementary volume dV be the area of a rectangular parallelepiped
with sides dx dy and dz parallel to the co-ordinate planes.
dV dxdydz
f ( x, y, z )dV f ( x, y, z )dxdydz
v V
A triple integral can be considered as an iterated integral.
f ( x, y, z )dxdydz f ( x, y, z )dz dy dx
i.e. ,
V
inner int egral
middle integral
outer integral
In the inner integral the variable of middle and outer integrals are treated as
conststants and in the middle integral the variable of outer integral is treated
as a constant.
If R is the projection of V in the xy-plane, the region V is bounded by the
surfaces z = g1(x, y) and z = g2(x, y) in the vertical direction then
g2 ( x , y )
f ( x, y, z )dxdydz f ( x, y, z )dz dydx
R
V g1 ( x , y )
1 z x z
Example 1. Evaluate ( x y z )dxdydz .
1 0 x z
Soln: Integrating first w.r.to y treating x and z constant, we get
1 z 1
(2(x z ) z 2 xz )dxdz 2 2 z dz 0 .
3
1 0 1
1 1 x 2 1 x y
2 2
Example 2.Evaluate xyzdxdydz .
0 0 0
Soln: Integrating first w.r.to z treating x and y constant, we get
1 1 x 2 1
1 1 1
2 0 xy (1 x y )dydx ( x 2 x3 x5 )dx .
2 2
0
80 48
Exercise.
a a a
1. ( xy yz zx)dxdydz .
0 0 0
1 1 x 2 1 x y
2 2
1
2.
0 0
0 1 x2 y 2 z 2
dxdydz .
1 1 1 x
3. xdxdydz
0 y2 0
a x x y
e
x y z
4. dxdydz .
0 0 0
Volume as Triple Integral
The volume V of a 3-dimensional region is given by dxdydz .
V
The order of integration may be changed with a suitable change in the limits of
integration.
In cylindrical co-ordinates the volume is given by rdrd dz .
V
In spherical polar co-ordinates, we have r 2 sin drd d .
V
Example 1. Find by triple integration, the volume of the solid bounded by the
planes x 0, y 0, x y z 1and z 0 .
1 1 x 1 x y
Soln: Required volume =
0 0 0
dzdydz .
1 1 x 1
1 1
=
0 0
(1 x y )dydx (1 x) 2dx .
20 6
Example 2. Find by triple integration, the volume of the region bounded by the
paraboloid az x 2 y 2 and the cylinder x2 y 2 R 2 .
Solution: Changing to cylindrical co-ordinates by putting x r cos , y r sin
the equation of the paraboloid becomes z r 2 / a and the equation of the cylinder
becomes r R . On account of symmetry, the required volume is four times the
volume in the positive octant.
Thus in the common region, z varies from 0 to r 2 / a , r varies from 0to R and
varies from 0 to .
2
r2
R4
2 R a 2 R 3
r 12 4
Required volume = 4 rdzdrd = 4 drd R d .
0 0 0 0 0
a a 0
2a
Example 3. Find by triple integration, the volume of a sphere of radius a.
Soln: Changing to spherical polar co-ordinates by putting
x r sin cos , y r sin sin the equation of the sphere becomes r a . On
account of symmetry, the required volume is 8 times the volume of the sphere in
the positive octant for which r varies from 0 to a , varies from 0 to and and
2
varies from 0 to .
2
2 2 a
a 2 2 3
8a 3 2
4 a3
Required volume = 8 r sin drd d = 8 sin d d
2
d .
0 0 0 0 0
3 3 0
3
Exercise:
1. Find by triple integration, the volume in the positive octant bounded by the
co-ordinate planes and the plane x 2 y 3z 4 .
2. Find the volume of the portion of the sphere x 2 y 2 z 2 a 2 lying inside
the cylinder x 2 y 2 ax .
3. Find the volume bounded above by the sphere x 2 y 2 z 2 2a 2 and
below by the paraboloid x 2 y 2 az .
4. Find by triple integration, the volume of the paraboloid of revolution
x 2 y 2 4 z cut off by the plane z 4 .
