2.2.

2 Polar Coordinates

Some double integrals are much easier to evaluate in polar form rather than in
Cartesian form. This is especially true for regions involving circles.

Recall that polar coordinates (r,) of a point are

related to Cartesian coordinates (x,y) of the point as
follow:
x= r cos  and y = r sin 
𝑦
r2 = x2 + y2 and tan  =
𝑥

The shaded region is quarter circle of radius 2. In

polar coordinates, the region is written as:
𝜋
𝑅 = {(𝑟, 𝜃): 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 2, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ }.
2

The shaded region consists of all points between

circles of radius 1 and radius 3.

The polar coordinates of the region can be

described as:
𝑅 = {(𝑟, 𝜃): 1 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 3, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋}.

Therefore, any polar sectors can be presented as:

𝑅 = {(𝑟, 𝜃): 𝑟1 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 𝑟2 , 𝜃1 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 𝜃2 }.
Let R be a plane region consisting of all points (𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃, 𝑟 sin 𝜃)
satisfying the condition 𝑟1 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 𝑟2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜃1 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 𝜃2 , then
𝜃2
2 𝑟
∫𝑅 ∫ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴 = ∫ ∫𝑟 𝑓(𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃, 𝑟 sin 𝜃) 𝑟. 𝑑𝑟. 𝑑𝜃
1
𝜃1
𝑟2
2 𝜃
∫𝑅 ∫ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴 = ∫ ∫𝜃 𝑓 (𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃, 𝑟 sin 𝜃) 𝑟. 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟
1
𝑟1

Example:
1. Let R be the region between x2 + y2=1 and x2 + y2 = 5. Evaluate the integral
∫𝑅 ∫(𝑥 2 + 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴 .

Sketch graph:

The boundaries are 1 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ √5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋,

Convert cartesian to polar, we have x2 = (r cos )2 and y = r sin 

∫𝑅 ∫(𝑥 2 + 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴

√5
2𝜋
= ∫ ∫0 (𝑟 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝑟 sin 𝜃) 𝑟. 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟
1
cos 2𝜃 = 2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜗 − 1
2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜗 = cos 2𝜃 + 1
1 1
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜗 = cos 2𝜃 +
2 2
√5
2𝜋
1 1
=∫ ∫ (𝑟 3 (2 + 2 cos 2𝜃) + 𝑟 2 sin 𝜃) 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟
0
1
√5
2𝜋
𝑟3
=∫ ∫ ( 2 (1 + cos 2𝜃) + 𝑟 2 sin 𝜃) 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟
0
1
√5
2𝜋
𝑟3 sin 2𝜃 2
=∫ [ (𝜃 + ) − 𝑟 cos 𝜃] . 𝑑𝑟
2 2
1 0
 √5
𝑟3 sin 4𝜋 𝑟3
=∫ [ (2𝜋 +
2 2
) − 𝑟 2 cos 2𝜋] − [ 2 (sin 0) − 𝑟 2 cos 0] . 𝑑𝑟
1
√5
=∫1 [𝑟 3 𝜋 − 𝑟 2 + 𝑟 2 ] 𝑑𝑟

𝑟4
√5
=[ ]
4
1
25𝜋 𝜋
= − = 6𝜋
4 4

2𝜋
√5
Alternatively, ∫𝑅 ∫ (𝑥 2 + 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴 = ∫ ∫1 (𝑟 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝑟 sin 𝜃) 𝑟. 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
0

2. Use polar coordinates to find the volume of the solid region bounded above by
the hemisphere 𝑧 = √16 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 and below by a circular region R given by
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ≤ 4.

Sketch graph:
𝑧 = √16 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 → 𝑧 2 = 16 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 → 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 16
which is an equation of a sphere, radius 4, center (0,0).

When z=0, which is on xy plane,

√16 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = 0
→ 16 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = 0
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 16 , which is a circle radius 4, center (0,0).

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 4 → which is an equation of a cylinder, radius 2, center (0,0).

The hemisphere forms the upper surface.

The circular region forms the

lowersurface.
 Sketch the projection on xy plane:

The projection of the solid is the projection of

the cylinder onto the xy plane,
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 4

The projection is a circle radius 2, center (0,0).

Write the boundaries: 𝑅 = {(𝑟, 𝜃): 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 2, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋}

Volume, 𝑉 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝑧 𝑑𝐴

2
2𝜋
= ∫ ∫0 𝑧 𝑟. 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟
0
2
2𝜋
=∫ ∫ √16 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 𝑟. 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟
0
0
2
2𝜋
=∫ ∫ √16 − 𝑟2 𝑟. 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟 (as x2 + y2 = r2)
0
0
2
2𝜋 1
=∫ ∫ 𝑟(16 − 𝑟 2 )2 . 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟
0
0
2 1
= ∫ 2𝜋𝑟(16 − 𝑟 2 )2 . 𝑑𝑟
0
Let 𝑢 = 16 − 𝑟 2
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑢 = −2𝑟 𝑑r → 𝑑𝑟 = −2𝑟
1 1
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢
∫ 2𝜋𝑟(𝑢)2 . −2𝑟 = ∫ 𝜋(𝑢)2 . −1

3 2
2𝜋
=− [(16 − 𝑟 2 )2 ]
3
0
3 2
2𝜋 3
=− [((√12) − 𝑟 2 )2 ]
3
0
3 3
2𝜋
=− (12 − 16 ) = 46.979
2 2
3

2𝜋 2
Alternatively, 𝑉 =∫ ∫ √16 − 𝑟 2 𝑟. 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
0 0
 2
√4−𝑦2
3. Evaluate ∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑥 . 𝑑𝑦 by using appropriate coordinate system.
2 +𝑦 2 )
𝑒 −(𝑥
0
0
Write the boundaries given: 𝑅 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ √4 − 𝑦 2 , 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2}

From 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ √4 − 𝑦 2 ,
sketch graph 𝑥 = √4 − 𝑦 2 → 𝑥2 = 4 − 𝑦2
→ 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4, which is a circle radius 2, center (0,0).

But x ≥ 0, so graph on right side only.

and 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2, so graph only quarter circle.

𝜋
Write the boundaries in polar: 𝑅 = {(𝑟, 𝜃): 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 2, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2 }
2
√4−𝑦 2
V= ∫ ∫ becomes
2 +𝑦 2 )
𝑒 −(𝑥 𝑑𝑥 . 𝑑𝑦
0
0
𝜋
2 2 2
= ∫ ∫ 𝑒 −𝑟 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
0
0
Let 𝑢 = 𝑟 2
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑢 = 2𝑟 𝑑r → 𝑑𝑟 = 2𝑟

𝑑𝑢 1 1
∫ 𝑒 −𝑢 𝑟 = 2 ∫ 𝑒 −𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = − 2 𝑒 −𝑢
2𝑟

𝜋
2
2
1 −𝑟 2
= − ∫ [𝑒 ] 𝑑𝜃
2
0
0
𝜋
1
= − ∫ [𝑒 −4 − 𝑒 0 ]
2
𝑑𝜃
2 0
𝜋
1 −4
= − (𝑒 − 1)[𝜃] 2
2
0
1 𝜋 𝜋
= − (𝑒 − 1) [ ] = − (𝑒 −4 − 1)
−4
2 2 4
2 𝜋

Alternatively, 𝑽 = ∫ ∫ 𝑒 −𝑟 𝑟 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟 2 2

0
0
4. Calculate the area of the region in the first quadrant bounded by the line y=x, the x-
axis and the circle x2 + y2=4.

Cartesian Coordinates Polar Coordinates

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝑑𝐴 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦

Using polar coordinates,

𝜋
4 2
𝐴 = ∫ ∫0 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 . 𝑑𝜃
0

𝜋
4
2
𝑟2
=∫ [ ] 𝑑𝜃
2
0
0

𝜋
= ∫04 2 𝑑𝜃

𝜋
4
= [2𝜃]
0
𝜋 𝜋
= 2( ) =
4 2

2 𝜋
Alternatively, 𝐴 = ∫ ∫04 𝑟 𝑑𝜃 . 𝑑𝑟
0

EXERCISE 14.3: No. 17-26.