Triple Integral

Consider a function 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 . Let be any point

within the rth sub-division . Then the limit of the sum , if it

exists, as and maximum of is called the triple integral of
over the region V and is denoted by

=
Thus

Volume as triple integral:

Divide the given solid by planes parallel to the co-ordinate planes into
rectangular parallelepipeds of volume .

Therefore, the total volume is with

appropriate limits of integration.

Properties of the Triple integrals

1) If and are functions of ,y and z defined over V ,

and are constants, then
2) If the region V is the union of two non-overlapping regions and i.e.
, then

3) Volume of the region V =

4)

where are the cylindrical polar coordinates of (x,y,z).

where are the spherical polar coordinates of (x,y,z).

Evaluation of triple integrals

Let the elementary volume be the area of a rectangular parallelepiped

with sides and parallel to the co-ordinate planes.

A triple integral can be considered as an iterated integral.

 .,

i.e

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

Example 1. Evaluate .
Soln: Integrating first w.r.to y treating x and z constant, we get

Example 2.Evaluate .

Soln: Integrating first w.r.to z treating x and y constant, we get

Exercise.

1. .

2. .

3.

4. .

Volume as Triple Integral

The volume V of a 3-dimensional region is given by .

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 .

In spherical polar co-ordinates, we have .

Example 1. Find by triple integration, the volume of the solid bounded by the
planes .

Soln: Required volume = .

= .

Example 2. Find by triple integration, the volume of the region bounded by the
paraboloid and the cylinder .

Solution: Changing to cylindrical co-ordinates by putting

the equation of the paraboloid becomes and the equation of the
cylinder becomes . On account of symmetry, the required volume is four
times the volume in the positive octant.

Thus in the common region, z varies from , r varies from and

varies from .

Required volume = = .

Example 3. Find by triple integration, the volume of a sphere of radius a.

Soln: Changing to spherical polar co-ordinates by putting

the equation of the sphere becomes . On
account of symmetry, the required volume is 8 times the volume of the sphere

in the positive octant for which r varies from , varies from and

and varies from .

Required volume = =
.

Exercise:

1. Find by triple integration, the volume in the positive octant bounded by

the co-ordinate planes and the plane .
2. Find the volume of the portion of the sphere lying inside
the cylinder .
3. Find the volume bounded above by the sphere and
below by the paraboloid .
4. Find by triple integration, the volume of the paraboloid of revolution
cut off by the plane .