Math 2 (MA113)

Lecture # 21
Multiple Integrals
 Main
objectives

In this lecture, we extend our knowledge

of double integrals to study triple
integrals and their applications.

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 TRIPLE INTEGRALS

Just as we defined single integrals for functions of one

variable and double integrals for functions of two
variables, so we can define triple integrals for
functions of three variables. Let’s first deal with the
simplest case where f is defined on a rectangular box:
B    x, y, z  a  x  b, c  y  d , r  z  s
The first step is to divide B
into sub-boxes—by dividing:
the interval [a, b] into l subintervals
[xi-1, xi]of equal width Δx.[c, d] into m
subintervals of width Δy.[r, s] into n subintervals of
width Δz.

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The planes through the endpoints of these
subintervals parallel to the coordinate planes divide
the box B into lmn sub-boxes. Each sub-box has volume ΔV
= Δx Δy Δz.

Bijk   xi 1 , xi    y j 1 , y  j   zk 1 , zk 

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Then, we form the triple Riemann sum
l m n

 f  xijk
* *
, yijk *
, zijk  V
i 1 j 1 k 1

where the sample point is in Bijk. x *

ijk
*
,y ,z
ijk
*
ijk 
By analogy with the definition of a double integral ,we
define the triple integral as the limit of the triple

  
Riemann sums. f x, y, z dV
B
l m n
 lim  f  xijk
* *
, yijk *
, zijk  V
l , m , n 
i 1 j 1 k 1

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Just as for double integrals, the practical method for
evaluating triple integrals is to express them as
iterated integrals, as follows.
If f is continuous on the rectangular box
B = [a, b] x [c, d] x [r, s], then

 f  x, y, z  dV
B
s d b

r   f  x, y, z  dx dy dz
c a
The iterated integral on the right side means that we
integrate in the following order: with respect to x
(keeping y and z fixed, with respect to y (keeping z
fixed) then, with respect to z.
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There are five other possible orders in which we
can integrate, all of which give the same value.
For instance, if we integrate with respect to y,
then z, and then x, we have:

 f  x, y, z  dV
B
b s d

a   f  x, y, z  dy dz dx
r c

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 Example Evaluate the triple integral
 dV
2
xyz
B
where B is the rectangular box
B    x, y, z  0  x  1,  1  y  2, 0  z  3

Solution We could use any of the six possible orders

of integration. If we choose to integrate with respect
to x, then y, and then z, we obtain the following
result.

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 3 2 1
 xyz dV    
2
xyz 2 dx dy dz
0 1 0
B
x 1
 x yz 
3 2
2 2
    dy dz
0 1
 2  x 0
2
yz
3 2
  dy dz
0 1 2

y 1 3
 y z
3
2 2
3 3z2
z3
27
   dz   dz  
0
 4  y 1
0 4 4 0
4

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 FUBINI’S THEOREM FOR INTEGRAL
OVER A GENERAL REGION

If we can express the region E in the form

E   x, y , z   x, y   D , u  x , y   z  u1 2  x, y  
where D is the projection of E onto the xy-plane and the upper
boundary of the solid E is the surface with equation z = u2(x, y)
and lower boundary is the surface z = u1(x, y). Then we have
u2  x , y 
f  x, y, z  dV    f  x, y, z  dz dA

E D
 
u1 x , y  

Notice that we can have two other

different cases
Can you write
them?

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Example 1: Evaluate
 z dV
E
where E is the solid

Such an integral is used

bounded by the four planes to calculate the z
coordinate of the centroid
x = 0, y = 0, z = 0, x + y + z = 1. of the solid

Solution When we set up a triple integral, it’s wise to draw

two diagrams: The solid region E and its projection D on the
xy-plane.

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The lower boundary of the solid is the plane z = 0 and the
upper boundary is the plane x + y + z = 1 (or z = 1 – x – y).
So, we use u1(x, y) = 0 and u2(x, y) = 1 – x – y
Notice that the planes x + y + z = 1 intersects the xy-
plane in the line x + y = 1 (or y = 1 – x).
So, the projection of E is the shown
triangular region, and we can express
E as follows:
E
  x, y, z  0  x  1, 0  y  1  x, 0  z  1  x  y
Hence, we have that

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 z 1 x  y
1 1 x 1 x  y 1 1 x  z2

 z dV    
0 0 0
z dz dy dx  
0 0   2
 
dy dx
E z 0
1 1 x 2
 1
2    1 x  y
0 0
dy dx
y 1 x
  1 x  y 
3
1
 1
2  
0

3


dx
 y 0
1
  1 x
3
 1
6 dx
0
1
1   1 x 
4
1
    
6  4  24
0

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 Example 2 Evaluate

E
x 2  z 2 dV

where E is the region bounded by the

paraboloid y = x2 + z2 and the plane y = 4.

Solution The solid E is shown here. Its projection D3 onto the xz-
plane is the disk x2 + z2 ≤ 4.
Then, the left boundary of E
is the paraboloid y = x2 + z2.
The right boundary is the plane y = 4.

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So, taking u1(x, z) = x2 + z2 and u2(x, z) = 4
then we have:
 4
x  z dy dA
 x  y dV   
2 2 2 2
 x2  z 2 
E D3

   4  x  z 2 2
 x  z dA
2 2

D3
However, it’s easier to convert to polar
coordinates in the xz-plane:

x = r cos θ, z = r sin θ

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That gives:

 x  z dV    4  x  z
2 2 2 2
 x  z dA
2 2

E D3

  4  r  rr dr d
2 2
 2
0 0

  d   4r  r  dr
2 2
2 4
0 0
2
 4r r 3 5
128
 2    
 3 5 0
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APPLICATIONS: The triple integral of f(x,y,z) =1 over the region E
represents the volume of E: V  E    dV
E

Example 1 Use a triple integral to find the volume of the solid T

bounded by the planes x + 2y + z = 2, x = 2y, x = 0, and z = 0.

Solution The solid T and its projection D on the xy-plane are shown.

The lower boundary of T is the plane z = 0. The upper boundary is

the plane x + 2y + z = 2, that is, z = 2 – x – 2y
So, we have:
1 1 x / 2 2 x 2 y
V  T    dV     dz dy dx
0 x/2 0
T
1 1 x / 2

0 
x/2
 2  x  2 y  dy dx
 13

Problem: Find the volume of the solid E bounded

by the graphs of the cylinders z = 3x2, z = 4 – x2
and the planes y = 0 and y + z = 6
Answer: V = 304/15

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