Applications of double integrals:

solved exercises

Exercise 1. Compute the coordinates of the centre of mass of the following homogeneous bodies,
whose density is equal to 1:

a) a thin lamina, of homogeneous density 1, bounded by the curves x = y 2 , x = y, with x ≥ 0;

b) a thin lamina, of homogeneous density 1, bounded by the curves y = x2 , x + y = 2;

c) a thin disk, described by x2 + y 2 ≤ 4x, whose density at P euqals the distance of P from the
origin;
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2
d) a thin lamina, of homogeneous density 1, described by D = (x, y) ∈ R : x2 ≤y≤1 ;

e) a thin half-disk, of homogeneous density 1, described by x2 + y 2 ≤ 1 and y ≥ 0.

Exercise 2. Compute the moment of inertia of the following homogeneous bodies (density 1), if
the axis about which it rotates passes through the given point P and is orthogonal to the plane
where the body lies :

a) a disk of radius R; P belongs to the boundary of the disk, that is to the circle of radius R;

b) an elliptical disk, with semiaxes a, b. P is the centre of the ellipse;

c) a square of side ℓ. P is any of the vertices of the square;

d) a rectangle with sides 2ℓ and 2m. P is the centre of the rectangle;

e) an isosceles triangle, with base 2b and height h, P is the vertex (apex) opposed to the base;

f ) a triangle with vertices A1 (0, 0), A2 (1, 1), A3 (2, 0), P = A1 ;

g) a triangle with vertices A1 (0, 0), A2 (0, 1), A3 (1, 0), P = A3 ;

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2 Applications of double integrals: solved exercises

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h) the set D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : x2 + y 2 ≤ 9, x2 + y 2 − 2x ≥ 0 , P = (0, 0).

Exercise 3. Compute the moment of inertia of a homogeneous disk (density 1) of radius R,

rotating about a line tangent to the boundary of the disk (hence a circle of radius R) and lying on
the plane containing the disk.

Exercise 4. Let D be an homogeneous disk (density 1), with centre at C(r, 0) and radius r > 0.
Let IO and IC the moments of inertia of D with respect the axis passes respectively through the
origin O and the center C and orthogonal to the plane where D lies; let A be the area of D. Verify
that the following equality holds:
IO = IC + r 2 A.

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Applications of double integrals: solved exercises 3

SOLUTIONS

Exercise 1. Recall that if D ⊆ R2 is a homogeneous lamina of density µ, where µ : D → R is a

continuous function, the coordinates of the centre of mass B of D are:
Z Z
1 1
xB = x µ(x, y) dx dy, yB = y µ(x, y) dx dy,
M D M D
Z
where M = µ(x, y) dx dy is the mass of D.
D
If the density equals a constant µ ∈ R (we say that D is homogeneous), then
Z Z
M= µ dx dy = µ 1 dx dy = µ Area(D)
D D

and the coordinates of B are

Z Z
1 1
xB = x dx dy, yB = y dx dy.
Area(D) D Area(D) D

1a) D is bounded by the parabola x = y 2 and the lines x = y, x = 0 and x = 1.

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Hence D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : y 2 ≤ x ≤ y, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1 . Let us y

compute area of D,
1
Z Z 1 Z y  Z 1

Area(D) = 1 dx dy = dx dy = y − y 2 dy = D
D 0 y2 0

 1
1 2 1 3 1
= y − y = . O 1 x
2 3 0 6

Hence
Z Z 1 Z y  Z 1 y Z 1
1 1 2

xB = x dx dy = 6 x dx dy = 6 x dy = 3 y 2 − y 4 dy =
Area(D) D 0 y2 0 2 y2 0

 1
1 1 2
= 3 y3 − y5 = ,
3 5 0 5
Z Z 1 Z y  Z 1 Z 1
1 2 4



yB = y dx dy = 6 y dx dy = 6 y y −y dy = 6 y 3 − y 5 dy =
Area(D) D 0 y2 0 0

 1
1 1 1
= 6 y4 − y6
= .
0 2 4 6


Therefore the centre of mass of D is the point B 52 , 12 .

1b) D is bounded by the parabola y = x2 and the line x + y = 2.

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4 Applications of double integrals: solved exercises

y
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Hence D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : x2 ≤ y ≤ 2 − x, −2 ≤ x ≤ 1 . Its
area is
Z Z 1 Z 2−x  Z 1

Area(D) = 1 dx dy = dy dx = 2 − x − x2 dx =
D −2 x2 −2
 1 D
1 1 9
= 2x − x2 − x3 = .
2 3 −2 2
−2 O 1 x

Hence
Z Z 1 Z 2−x  Z 1
1 2 2

xB = x dx dy = x dy dx = x 2 − x − x2 dx =
Area(D) D 9 −2 x2 9 −2

 
2 2 1 3 1 4 1
Z 1
2 2 3

1
= 2x − x − x dx = x − x − x =− ,
9 −2 9 3 4 −2 2

Z Z 1 Z 2−x  Z 1  2−x
1 2 2 1 2
yB = y dx dy = y dy dx = y dx =
Area(D) D 9 −2 x2 9 −2 2 x2

 
1 3 1 5 1
Z 1
1 2 4

1 2 8
= 4 − 4x + x − x dx = 4x − 2x + x − x = .
9 −2 9 3 5 −2 9


Therefore the centre of mass of D is the point B − 12 , 89 .

p n o
1c) In this case the density is µ(x, y) = x2 + y 2 . The set D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : x2 + y 2 ≤ 4x is
the disk with centre (2, 0) and radius 2.

In order to compute the mass M of D, we use polar coordinates, to get that D is transformed
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in the set D ′ = (ρ, ϑ) ∈ R2 : − π2 ≤ ϑ ≤ π2 , 0 ≤ ρ ≤ 4 cos ϑ . Therefore

Z Z p Z
y
M = µ(x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2 dx dy = ρ2 dρ dϑ =
D D D′

Z π Z 4 cos ϑ  Z π  4 cos ϑ
2
2
2 1 3
= ρ dρ dϑ = ρ dϑ = D
− π2 0 − π2 3 0
b
Z π Z π
64 2
3 64 2
2

O 2 4 x
= cos ϑ dϑ = 1 − sin ϑ cos ϑ dϑ =
3 − π2 3 − π2

 π
64 1 3
2 256
= sin ϑ − sin ϑ = .
3 3 − π 9
2

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Applications of double integrals: solved exercises 5

By using again polar coordinates, we compute the coordinates of the centre of mass

Z Z Z
1 9 p 9
xB = x µ(x, y) dx dy = x x2 + y 2 dx dy = ρ3 cos ϑ dρ dϑ =
M D 256 D 256 D′

Z π Z 4 cos ϑ  Z π  4 cos ϑ
9 2
3 9 2 1
= ρ cos ϑ dρ dϑ = cos ϑ ρ4 dϑ =
256 − π2 0 256 − π2 4 0

Z π Z π
9 2 95 2
2
= cos ϑ dϑ = 1 − sin2 ϑ cos ϑ dϑ =
4 − π2 4 − π2

Z π
9 2

= 1 − 2 sin2 ϑ + sin4 ϑ cos ϑ dϑ =
4 − π2

 π
9 2 3 1 5
2 12
= sin ϑ − sin ϑ + sin ϑ = .
4 3 5 − π 5
2

Since D and the integrand are symmetrical with respect to the x-axis, we have

Z Z
1 9 p
yB = y µ(x, y) dx dy = y x2 + y 2 dx dy = 0.
M D 256 D

12


Therefore the centre of mass of D is the point B 5 ,0 .

1d) Since D is homogeneous and symmetrical with respect to the y-axis, xB = 0. In order to
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compute the area of D, we note that D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : x2 ≤ y ≤ 1, −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 .

y
Hence
Z  1
Z Z 1 1
Area(D) = 1 dx dy = dy dx =
D −1 x2
D
Z 1  1
2

1 4
= 1−x dx = x − x3 = .
−1 3 −1 3 −1 O 1 x

Now we compute yB . We have

Z Z 1 Z 1  Z 1  1
1 3 3 1 2
yB = y dx dy = y dy dx = y dx =
Area(D) D 4 −1 x2 4 −1 2 x2

 
1 5 1
Z 1
3 4

3 3
= 1−x dx = x− x = .
8 −1 8 5 −1 5

Therefore the centre of mass of D is the point B 0, 53 .

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6 Applications of double integrals: solved exercises

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1e) D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : x2 + y 2 ≤ 1, y ≥ 0 is homogeneous and symmetrical with respect to
π
the y-axis. Therefore xB = 0. Moreover, the mass of D equals its area 2. Now we compute
the y-coordinate of B. We use polar coordinates, so that D is transformed in the set D ′ =
[0, 1] × [0, π]. Then

Z y
1
yB = y dx dy =
Area(D) D

Z
2 D
= ρ2 sin ϑ dρ dϑ =
π D′

Z 1  Z π 
2 2 4 −1 O 1 x
= ρ dρ sin ϑ dϑ = .
π 0 0 3π

4


Therefore the centre of mass of D is the point B 0, 3π .

Exercise 2. Recall that the moment of inertia of a lamina D ⊆ R2 , with density µ, where
µ : D → R is a continuous function, about an axis passing through a point P and orthogonal to
the plane containing D is given by
Z
I= µ(x, y) d2 (x, y) dx dy,
D
where d(x, y) is the distance of the point (x, y) ∈ D from P . If the density µ equals 1, we have
Z
I= d2 (x, y) dx dy.
D

2a) Without loss of generality, we assume that P = (R, 0). The distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D
p
from P is d(x, y) = (x − R)2 + y 2 .
Hence the moment of inertia is y
Z Z
2
  R
I= d (x, y) dx dy = (x − R)2 + y 2 dx dy =
D D (x, y)
b
Z

D
2 2 2
= x − 2Rx + R + y dx dy = P
b
D
O R x
by using polar coordinates we get
Z


= ρ ρ2 − 2Rρ cos ϑ + R2 dρ dϑ =
D′

where D ′ = [0, R] × [0, 2π]

Z 2π Z R 

3 4
= ρ3 − 2Rρ2 cos ϑ + R2 ρ dρ dϑ = πR .
0 0 2

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Applications of double integrals: solved exercises 7

p
2b) The distance of (x, y) ∈ D from P is d(x, y) = x2 + y 2 .

y
Hence the moment of inertia is
Z Z

b
I= d2 (x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2 dx dy =
D D (x, y)
D b

by using elliptic polar coordinates (centre at the origin and

b

semiaxes a and b) we get P a x

Z


= abρ a2 ρ2 cos2 ϑ + b2 ρ2 sin2 ϑ dρ dϑ =
D′

where D ′ = [0, 1] × [0, 2π]

Z 1  Z 2π 


= ab ρ3 dρ a2 cos2 ϑ + b2 sin2 ϑ dϑ =
0 0

 2π
1 1 2 1 2 1
= ab a (ϑ + sin ϑ cos ϑ) + b (ϑ − sin ϑ cos ϑ) = ab(a2 + b2 )π.
4 2 2 0 4

2c) Consider the square with vertices (0, 0), (l, 0), (l, l) and (0, l). Choose P = (0, 0). The
p
distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D from P is d(x, y) = x2 + y 2 .

y
Hence the moment of inertia is
Z Z
2


I= d (x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2 dx dy =
D D l
Z l Z l  Z l l

1 3 (x, y)
= x2 + y 2 dx dy =x + xy 2 dy = b
D
0 0 0 3 0
Z l   l
1 3 1 3 1 2 b

= l + ly 2 dy = l y + ly 3 = l4 . P l x
0 3 3 3 0 3

2d) Consider the rectangle with vertices (ℓ, m), (−ℓ, m), (−ℓ, −m) e (ℓ, −m). In this case P =
p
(0, 0). The distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D from P is d(x, y) = x2 + y 2 .

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8 Applications of double integrals: solved exercises

y
Hence the moment of inertia is
m
Z Z

(x, y)
I= d2 (x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2
dx dy = b
D
D D
Z m Z l l Z m  b

1 3 P l x
x2 + y 2 dx x + xy 2
−l
= dy =
dy =
−m −l −m 3 −l
Z m   m
1 3 1 1 4
=2 l + ly 2 dy = 2 l3 y + ly 3 = lm(l2 +m2 ). −m
−m 3 3 3 −m 3

2e) We consider P = (0, 0), as in the figure.

 The distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D 
from P is
p b b
d(x, y) = x2 + y 2 . Remark that D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : 0 ≤ x ≤ h, − x ≤ y ≤ x .
h h

Hence the moment of inertia is

Z Z


I= d2 (x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2 dx dy =
D D y

Z Z ! b
h (b/h)x

2 2
= x +y dy dx =
0 −(b/h)x b D
(x, y)
Z h (b/h)x
1 b

= x2 y + y 3 dx = P h x
0 3 −(b/h)x
Z h 
b 1 b3
=2 + x3 dx = −b
0 h 3 h3
    
b 1 b3 1 4 h 1 2 1 2
=2 + x = bh h + b .
h 3 h3 4 0 2 3

p
2f ) The distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D from P is d(x, y) = x2 + y 2 .

n o
Note that D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : y ≤ x ≤ 2 − y, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1 .

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Applications of double integrals: solved exercises 9

Hence the moment of inertia is

Z Z


I= d2 (x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2 dx dy = y
D D
Z 1 Z 2−y


2 2
= x +y dx dy =
0 y A2
1 b

Z 1 2−y
1 3
= x + xy 2 dy = (x, y)
0 3 y
b

Z 1  D
8 8 A1
= − y 3 + 4y 2 − 4y + dy = b b

0 3 3 P A3 x
 
2 4 4 3 2 8 1 4
= − y + y − 2y + y = .
3 3 3 0 3

p
2g) The distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D from P is d(x, y) = (x − 1)2 + y 2 .

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Remark that D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1 − x .

Hence the moment of inertia is y

Z Z

A2 b

I= d2 (x, y) dx dy = (x − 1)2 + y 2 dx dy =
D D
Z 1 Z 1−x


2 2
= (x − 1) + y dy dx =
0 0 D
Z 1 1−x Z 1
1 4
= (x − 1)2 y + y 3 dx = − (x − 1)3 dx = (x, y)
0 3 0 3 0
b

 1
4 1 1 A1 A3
=− (x − 1)4 = . b b

x
3 4 0 3 P

p
2h) The distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D from P is d(x, y) = x2 + y 2 .

n o
Remark that D = (x, y) ∈ R2 : 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1 − x .

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10 Applications of double integrals: solved exercises

y
Hence the moment of inertia is
Z Z
2

D
I= d (x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2 dx dy.
D D (x, y)
b

We note that D = A \ B, where

b b

n o P O 1 2 3 x
A = (x, y) ∈ R2 : x2 + y 2 ≤ 9 ,
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B = (x, y) ∈ R2 : (x − 1)2 + y 2 < 1 =
n o
= (x, y) ∈ R2 : x2 + y 2 < 2x .

Hence
Z Z Z
2 2

2 2



I= x +y dx dy = x +y dx dy − x2 + y 2 dx dy.
D A B

By using polar coordinates A is transformed in A′ = [0, 3] × [0, 2π] and B in

n π πo
B ′ = (x, y) ∈ R2 : 0 ≤ ρ < 2 cos ϑ, − ≤ ϑ ≤ . Thus
2 2

Z Z
3
I = ρ dρ dϑ − ρ3 dρ dϑ =
A′ B′

Z 3 Z π/2 Z 2 cos ϑ   3 Z π/2  2 cos ϑ

3 3 1 1 4
= 2π ρ dρ − ρ dρ dϑ = 2π ρ4 − ρ dϑ =
0 −π/2 0 4 0 −π/2 4 0

Z π/2 Z π/2
81 81
4
= π−4 cos ϑ dϑ = π − 4 (1 − sin2 ϑ) cos2 ϑ dϑ =
2 −π/2 2 −π/2

Z π/2
81
= π−4 (cos2 ϑ − sin2 ϑ cos2 ϑ) dϑ =
2 −π/2

 π/2
81 1 1
= π − 4 (ϑ + sin ϑ cos ϑ) − (2ϑ + sin 2ϑ cos 2ϑ) = 39π.
2 2 16 −π/2

Exercise 3. We consider the rotation axis x = −R. The distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D from this
axis is d(x, y) = x + R.

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Applications of double integrals: solved exercises 11

Hence the moment of inertia is

Z Z
I= d2 (x, y) dx dy = (x + R)2 dx dy = y
D D
R
by using polar coordinates (x, y)
b b
Z
= ρ(ρ cos ϑ + R)2 dρ dϑ =
b
D′
−R O R x
dove D′ = [0, R] × [0, 2π] D
Z 2π Z R 
3 2 2

2
= ρ cos ϑ + 2Rρ cos ϑ + R ρ dρ dϑ = asse
0 0
Z R  Z 2π  Z R
5 4
= ρ3 dρ cos2 ϑ dϑ + 2πR2 ρ dρ = πR .
0 0 0 4

p
Exercise 4. The distance of a point (x, y) ∈ D from O is dO (x, y) = x2 + y 2 , while the distance
p
of a point (x, y) ∈ D from C is dC (x, y) = (x − r)2 + y 2
y

The moment of inertia with respect to O is D

Z Z


IO = d2O (x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2 dx dy. (x, y)
D D b

The moment of inertia with respect to C is b b

O C x
Z Z


Ic = d2C (x, y) dx dy = (x − r)2 + y 2 dx dy.
D D

We have
Z Z


IO = d2O (x, y) dx dy = x2 + y 2 dx dy =
ZD D
2 2


= (x − r + r) + y dx dy =
ZD


= (x − r)2 + 2r(x − r) + r 2 + y 2 dx dy =
ZD Z Z
2 2

2
= (x − r) + y dx dy +r dx dy +2r (x − r) dx dy = Ic + r 2 A,
|D {z } D
| {z } D

IC area of D
Z
since (x − r) dx dy = 0.
D

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