Mathematics Analysis and Approaches

(Higher Level)

Internal Assessment

Title:- Modelling the surface area of a vase made from blue pottery.

Number of pages: 15

1
Introduction
Rationale

Since childhood, being artistic and creative has always been a recurring quality in me. I have been

enticed by creativity as it lets me to think out of the box and convert ideas into reality. My family

belongs to the historic city of Jaipur, which is rich in culture and strong in diversity. Being an avid

follower of the arts, it was natural for me to discover different forms of it and try them out,

something which I found interesting was how each of them had techniques which were totally

different from each other. What intrigued me the most was the craft of making pots and vases

from blue pottery. Jaipur is known for the craft of Blue pottery, brought by Mughals from Persia

and patronized by Indian kings1.

The vase shown below in Figure 1 was created as a project by me. Even though it is ordinary in

design, it means of great significance and hence, I looked for ways through which I would be able

to create a connection between my Mathematics AA HL Exploration and Blue Pottery. Henceforth,

I chose to centre the study on calculating the surface area of the blue pottery vase. This area of

mathematics has greater implications as the surface area of a vase can determine the quantity of

colours, paint and the glaze needed prior to the baking stage. Two main colours that are used in

blue pottery are Oxide and Ferro colours2 which can be costly depending on the availability in the

area one lives in. Thus, this exploration as can be useful in approximating the cost of making the

vase from blue pottery post the smoothening stage3.

1
"Blue Pottery Jaipur." Blue Pottery Jaipur. Government of Rajasthan. Web. 02 Dec. 2020.

<http://www.water.rajasthan.gov.in/content/industries/handmadeinrajasthandepartment/artandcraft/bluepottery/blu

epottery-jaipur.html#>.

2
Www.aiacaonline.org. "Blue Pottery." Blue Pottery | All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association. Web. 02

Dec. 2020. <https://web.archive.org/web/20150723221348/http://www.aiacaonline.org/craftmark-certified-

processes-blue-pottery.asp?links=craftm6>.

3
Shubhangi. "Making Process." D'Source. 07 Mar. 2016. Web. 02 Dec. 2020. <http://www.dsource.in/resource/blue-

pottery-jaipur-rajasthan-0/making-process>.

2
 Figure 1 Front view of the pot made from blue pottery

Aim 

In our Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) HL lessons, we were taught on how to obtain the a

solid of revolution’s volume in the interval [p, q] using integral calculus. The formula provided to us
4
was :

4
Hease, Michael, Mark Humphries, Christopher J. Sangwin, and Ngoc Vo. Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL.

Hease Mathematics, 2019. Print.

3
 q
V= ∫ πy dx
p
2

Hence, it came to me that if using calculus, we could find the surface area of a solid of revolution

in a similar way. After going through my Mathematics Analysis and Approaches book, I discovered

a method which allowed me to find the surface area formula for a solid of revolution, 𝐴 , of the

vase made from blue pottery in the interval [p, q]5: 

q
A= ∫ 2πy ds
p

Where 𝑦 = f (x) , f(x) > 0

p ≤ 𝑥 ≤ q , Also, 𝑑 𝑠 = 1+ ( )
dx 2
dy
dx

As the vase made from blue pottery has a circular cross section (depicted below in Figure 2), this

formula would be suitable as it is only applicable to solids of revolutions. Therefore, the purpose

of my exploration study will be to examine and understand how to mathematically draw the

formula for a solid of revolution’s surface area and after that, apply it to approximating the surface

area of the vase made from blue pottery.

5
Hease, Michael, Mark Humphries, Christopher J. Sangwin, and Ngoc Vo. Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL.

Hease Mathematics, 2019. Print.

4
 Figure 2: circular cross-section present in the aerial view of the pot made from blue pottery

Exploring the formula for surface area 

When we rotate a continuous function, 𝑦 = (𝑥 ), through the X-axis in the interval [c, d], a solid of

revolution is created. The solid could be further split in infinite frustums, by rotation the line

segment around the X -axis, with equal step size – also knowns as 𝑑 𝑥 . Total frustum’s number

considered will be infinite as this will model the vase as closely as possible. Moreover, a solid of

revolution with different frustums at intervals of width (Δ𝑑 𝑥 ) to indicate its shape can be seen in

Figure 3 as an example with a photograph of the vase made from blue pottery, although to only 3

frustums currently.

5
 Figure 3: Pot made from Blue Pottery divided into 3 frustums

As seen above, by only 3 frustums, it doesn’t truly reflect the figure of the blue pottery vase. So, I’ll

assume infinite number of frustum’s in order to find the surface area of vase. Moreover, one has

to begin with the surface area formula of a frustum to get the formula for a solid of revolution’s

surface area. This is:

A = 2πrl

6
 Figure 4: picture of a frustum

r 1 +r 2
As both the sides of the frustum don’t have the same radii, r = and the slant height (l) of the
2

frustum is also visible above in Figure 4. 𝑑 𝑠 is the curve length of the function and 𝑙 can be

equated to ds. So, due to this, the new function is:

A = 2πrl

= 2π ( )
r1+r2
2
ds

f(x) is a continuou’s function and r1 = f(xi-1) and r2 = f(xi). r1 and r2 both can be estimated to be f(x*i)

as the Δx is small. The values of r1 and r2 can be substitute in the initial formula for a frustum’s

7
surface area. Hence, the surface area in [xi-1, xi] will be:

f(xi-1)+f(xi)
A = 2π( )ds
2

f(x*i)+f(x*i)
= 2π( )ds
2

= 2πf(x*i)ds

As the definite integral of (𝑥 ) in the interval [p, q] is expressed as:

n
q

∫ f(x)dx = lim ∑f(x )dx

p n→∞
i=1
*
i

The solid of revolution’s surface area is divided into an infinite number of frustums could be

described as:

n
q
A = lim
n→∞ ∑
i=1
∫
2πf(x*i)ds= 2πf(x)ds
p

Now, ds was needed to be known and as 𝑑 𝑦 and 𝑑 𝑥 are small, the curved length - 𝑑 𝑠 may be

considered in the form of a straight line. So, we can now say that the curved solid of revolution

may be consisting of infinite number of straight lines. This 𝑑 𝑠 may then be equal to 𝑙 which is

the slant length of the frustum as shown in Figure 4. The Pythagorean Theorem may be useful in

finding l through the extension of ds only. Furthermore, through a right-angled triangle, 𝑑 y and 𝑑 x

with relation to 𝑑 𝑠 can also be seen.

8
 Figure 5: A right-angled triangle suggesting the placements of dy, dx and ds

So, by the use of the Pythagorean Theorem, it is possible to find 𝑑 𝑠 :

(ds)2 = (dx)2 + (dy)2

Squaring the roots on both of the sides to find 𝑑 𝑠 :

ds = (dx)2+(dy)2

This will be followed by the factorisation of (dx)2 and the values present in the square root to find

𝑑 𝑠 :

( ( ))
2
dy
ds = (dx)2 1+
dx

9
 ( ) dx
2
dy
= 1+
dx

Hence, total surface area of a solid in bounded interval [p, q] is seen as:

q
A= ∫ 2πy ds
p

q
= ∫p2πy 1+ ( )
dy 2
dx
dx Equation Number 1

10
Graphing the vase made from Blue Pottery

The real dimension of vase made from blue pottery and the GeoGebra’s dimensions are different.

However, since they are similar to each other, so, using their scale factor the problem can be

overcome.

Before graphing the vase, the original height (h) of the blue pottery vase was 20.1 cm

The maximum domain for the graph is 55.3

20.1
So, the scale factor is  0.363 (3 s.f.)6
55.3

The graph of the vase was made through GeoGebra classic application.

6
(s.f.) = significant figures
11
Figure 6 Blue pottery vase fitted on GeoGebra graph

12
Table 1: Points on the Blue Pottery Vase projected on the graph made on GeoGebra

Horizontal length Vertical length

A 4.81 18.22

B 7.91 22.61

C 10.35 25.22

D 12.79 26.52

E 15.72 28.31

F 19.14 28.64

G 22.07 28.82

H 24.67 28.64

I 27.44 28.64

J 28.39 27.9

K 29.88 27.5

L 32.16 26.36

M 34.27 24.73

N 36.23 22.61

O 38.34 20.33

P 40.62 18.38

Q 42.41 16.27

R 44.2 14.48

13
Finding the functions

I divided the vase made from blue pottery into 3 parts – Section A, B and C7

Section A:

Figure 7: First section of the graph for the designated domain of x

7
Appendix 2: Intersection points marked for the three graphs using graphic calculator GDC

14
R-squared is a measure of statistics which help to determine the accuracy of the fitted regression

line and the given data8.

R2 0.9982

y = 0.0014x3 - 0.1047x2 + 2.5744x + 8.1165 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 28.38973162

So,

dy
= 0.0042x2 - 0.2094x + 2.5744
dx

And as,

( )
dy 2
q q
A= ∫ p
2πy ds = ∫ p
2πy 1+
dx
dx

28.38973162

∫ 0
2π (0.0014x3-0.1047x2+2.5744x+8.1165) 1+(0.0042x2-0.2094x+2.5744) dx
2

= 5504.461345 cm2

Section B:

8
Editor, Minitab Blog. "Regression Analysis: How Do I Interpret R-squared and Assess the Goodness-of-Fit?" Minitab

Blog. Minitab Blog, 30 May 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2020. <https://blog.minitab.com/en/adventures-in-statistics-

2/regression-analysis-how-do-i-interpret-r-squared-and-assess-the-goodness-of-

fit#:~:text=R%2Dsquared%20is%20a%20statistical,multiple%20determination%20for%20multiple%20regression.>.

15
 Figure 8: Second section of the graph for the designated domain of x
2
R 0.9993

y = 0.0021x3 - 0.2434x2 + 8.4581x - 63.1482 ; 28.38973162 ≤ x ≤ 44.18167931

So,

dy
= 0.0063x2 - 0.4868x + 8.4581
dx

And As,

16
 ( )
dy 2
q q
A= ∫ p
2πy ds = ∫ p
2πy 1+
dx
dx

44.18167931

= ∫ 2π( 0.0021x3-0.2434x2+8.4581x-63.1482) 1+(0.0063x2-0.4868x+8.4581 ) dx

2

28.38973162

= 2926.765935 cm2

Section C:

Figure 9: Third section of the graph for the designated domain of x

2
R 0.9979

17
y = 0.0008x3 - 0.1161x2 + 5.4802x - 67.9552 for 44.18167931 ≤ x ≤ 55.25603554

So,

dy
= 0.0024x2 - 0.2322x + 5.4802
dx

And as,

( )
dy 2
q q
A= ∫ 2πy ds = ∫
p p
2πy 1+
dx
dx

55.25603554
= ∫ 2π (0.0008x3- 0.1161x2+5.4802x-67.9552) 1+(0.0024x2-0.2322x+5.4802) dx
44.18167931
2

= 63811.4706 cm2

Total Surface Area

= 63811.4706 + 2926.765935 + 5504.461345

= 72242.69788 cm2

So, the total surface area after the implementation of scale factor is:

72242.69788×(0.363)2 = 9519.348057 cm2

18
CONCLUSIONS:

To conclude, I am deeply satisfied to conduct an exploration to find out the surface area of a vase

made from blue pottery through the real world applications of calculus. Furthermore, to unpack

the mathematical reasoning behind the surface area formula of a solid of revolution and

understand it properly was appreciable. Although the study was done through making a number of

assumptions to calculate the surface area, I believe that it was sufficient for me to paint a

relationship between Mathematics and the Arts. On a personal level, I am keen to take this

exploration further ahead and investigate the formula for finding a solid of revolution’s volume.

LIMITATIONS:

Throughout the study, the presence of a few limitations is possible. The most prominent one being

that the calculations for the surface area of the vase made from blue pottery is just an

approximated value, thus it may limit the level of accuracy to only three significant figures. To

overcome this problem and improve the accuracy of the exploration, a graphic calculator could

have been used to round off to more than five decimal places. However, this option seemed clear-

cut with the limited tools I was exposed to. Additionally, it is also possible that this study may have

been a subject to human errors such as the initial measurements through an inch-tape of the

height and circumference of the blue pottery vase. Moreover, these measurements were also

rounded off to the nearest 0.1 cm as it was the small division for the inch tape. To overcome this

problem, I could have measured the radius through a Vernier calliper to as it is accurate to 0.01cm.

19
BIBLIOGRAPY

 "Blue Pottery Jaipur." Blue Pottery Jaipur. Government of Rajasthan. Web. 02 Dec. 2020.

<http://www.water.rajasthan.gov.in/content/industries/handmadeinrajasthandepartment/a

rtandcraft/bluepottery/bluepottery-jaipur.html#>.

 Editor, Minitab Blog. "Regression Analysis: How Do I Interpret R-squared and Assess the

Goodness-of-Fit?" Minitab Blog. Minitab Blog, 30 May 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2020.

<https://blog.minitab.com/en/adventures-in-statistics-2/regression-analysis-how-do-i-

interpret-r-squared-and-assess-the-goodness-of-

fit#:~:text=R%2Dsquared%20is%20a%20statistical,multiple%20determination%20for%20mu

ltiple%20regression.>.

 Hease, Michael, Mark Humphries, Christopher J. Sangwin, and Ngoc Vo. Mathematics:

Analysis and Approaches HL. Hease Mathematics, 2019. Print.

 Shubhangi. "Making Process." D'Source. 07 Mar. 2016. Web. 02 Dec. 2020.

<http://www.dsource.in/resource/blue-pottery-jaipur-rajasthan-0/making-process>.

 Www.aiacaonline.org. "Blue Pottery." Blue Pottery | All India Artisans and Craftworkers

Welfare Association. Web. 02 Dec. 2020.

<https://web.archive.org/web/20150723221348/http://www.aiacaonline.org/craftmark-

certified-processes-blue-pottery.asp?links=craftm6>.

20
 APPENDICES

Appendix 1

Graphs with their inverse forms making the shape of the vase made from blue pottery

Appendix 2

21
Intersection points marked for the three graphs using graphic calculator GDC

22