MULTIPLE INTEGRALS

Dr. Vivek Singh

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Manipal University Jaipur
MULTIPLE INTEGRALS

Triple Integrals

• In this section, we will learn about:

Triple integrals and their applications.
 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.
TRIPLE INTEGRALS Equation 1
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
TRIPLE INTEGRALS

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.
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
The planes through the
endpoints of these
subintervals parallel to
the coordinate planes
divide the box B into
lmn sub-boxes

Bijk = xi−1 , xi   y j−1 , y j   zk −1 , zk 

▪ Each sub-box has volume ΔV = Δx Δy Δz
TRIPLE INTEGRALS Equation 2
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 ( ijk ijk )

x*
,
ijk
y *
, z *

is in Bijk.
TRIPLE INTEGRALS

By analogy with the definition of a double

integral (Definition 5 in Section 11.1),
we define the triple integral as the limit of the
triple Riemann sums in Equation 2.
TRIPLE INTEGRAL Definition 3
The triple integral of f over the box B is:

 f (x, y, z )dV

B
l m n

= lim
l,m,n→
 f (x , yijk
*
ijk
* *
, zijk )V
i=1 j=1 k =1

if this limit exists.

▪ Again, the triple integral always exists if f
is continuous.
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
We can choose the sample point to be any
point in the sub-box.

However, if we choose it to be the point

(xi, yj, zk) we get a simpler-looking expression:

 f (x , y , z )V
l m n

 f (x, y, z )dV = lim

l ,m,n→
i=1 j =1 k =1
i j k
B
TRIPLE INTEGRALS

Just as for double integrals, the practical

method for evaluating triple integrals is to
express them as iterated integrals, as follows.
FUBINI’S TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS) Theorem 4
If f is continuous on the rectangular box
B = [a, b] x [c, d] x [r, s], then

 f (x, y, z )dV

B

=   f (x, y, z )dxdy dz
s d b

r c a
FUBINI’S TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS)
The iterated integral on the right side of
Fubini’s Theorem means that we integrate in
the following order:

1. With respect to x (keeping y and z fixed)

2. With respect to y (keeping z fixed)

3. With respect to z
FUBINI’S TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS)
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

=  f (x, y, z )dy dz dx
b s d

a r c
FUBINI’S TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS) Example 1

 xyz dV
Evaluate the triple integral 2

B
where B is the rectangular box

B = (x, y, z) 0  x  1, −1  y  2, 0  z  3
FUBINI’S TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS) Example 1
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.
FUBINI’S TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS) Example 1

  xyz dV =   
3 2 1
2 2
xyz dxdy dz
0 −1 0
B
x=1
 x yz  2 2
=  
3 2

0 −1  dy dz
 2  x=0
2
yz
= 
3 2
dy dz
0 −1 2

y=1 3
3 y z  2 2
3 3z z 
2 3
27
= 0   dz =  dz =  =
 4  y=−1
0 4 4 0 4
INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION
Now, we define the triple integral over
a general bounded region E in three-
dimensional space (a solid) by much the same
procedure that we used for double integrals.

▪ See Definition 2 in Section 11.3

INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION
We enclose E in a box B of the type given
by Equation 1.

Then, we define a function F so that it agrees

with f on E but is 0 for points in B that are
outside E.
 INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION

By definition,

  f (x, y, z)dV =   F (x, y, z )dV

E B

▪ This integral exists if f is continuous and the

boundary of E is “reasonably smooth.”

▪ The triple integral has essentially the same

properties as the double integral (Properties 6–9 in
Section 11.3).
INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION

We restrict our attention to:

▪ Continuous functions f

▪ Certain simple types of regions

TYPE 1 REGION
A solid region is said to be of type 1
if it lies between the graphs of
two continuous functions of x and y.
TYPE 1 REGION Equation 5
That is,
E= (x, y, z ) (x, y ) D,u (x, y )  z  u
1 2 (x, y )
where D is the projection of E
onto the xy-plane.
TYPE 1 REGIONS

Notice that:
▪ The upper boundary of the solid E is the surface
with equation z = u2(x, y).
▪ The lower boundary is the surface z = u1(x, y).
TYPE 1 REGIONS Equation/Formula 6
By the same sort of argument that led to
Formula 3 in Section 11.3, it can be shown
that, if E is a type 1 region given by
Equation 5, then

 u2 (x, y ) 
  f (x, y, z )dV =  
 u1(x, y)
f (x, y, z )dz dA

E D
TYPE 1 REGIONS

The meaning of the inner integral on

the right side of Equation 6 is that x and y are held fixed.

Therefore,

▪ u1(x, y) and u2(x, y) are regarded as constants.

▪ f(x, y, z) is integrated with respect to z.

TYPE 1 REGIONS

In particular, if
the projection D of E
onto the xy-plane
is a type I plane
region, then

E=
(x, y, z ) a  x  b, g (x)  y  g (x),u (x, y)  z  u (x, y)
1 2 1 2
TYPE 1 REGIONS Equation 7

Thus, Equation 6 becomes:

 f (x, y, z )dV

E

=   f ( x, y, z )dz dydx
b g 2 ( x) u2 ( x, y)

a g1 (x) u1 ( x, y )
TYPE 1 REGIONS

If, instead, D is a type II plane region, then

E=
(x, y, z ) c  y  d, h ( y)  x  h ( y),u (x, y)  z  u (x, y)
1 2 1 2
TYPE 1 REGIONS Equation 8

Then, Equation 6 becomes:

 f (x, y, z )dV

E

=  f (x, y, z )dz dxdy

d h2 ( y ) u2 ( x, y)

c h1 ( y) 
u1 ( x, y )
TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 2
Evaluate
z dV
E

where E is the solid tetrahedron

bounded by the four planes
x = 0, y = 0, z = 0, x + y + z = 1
TYPE 1
Example 2
REGIONS
When we set up a triple integral, it’s wise
to draw two diagrams:
▪ The solid region E
▪ Its projection D on the xy-plane
TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 2
The lower boundary of the tetrahedron 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
in Formula 7.
 TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 2
Notice that the planes x + y + z = 1 and z = 0
intersect in the line x + y = 1 (or y = 1 – x)
in the xy-plane.

▪ So, the projection of E

is the triangular region
shown here, and we have
the following equation.
TYPE 1 REGIONS E. g. 2—Equation 9

E=
(x, y, z ) 0  x  1,0  y  1− x, 0  z  1− x − y

▪ This description of E as a type 1 region

enables us to evaluate the integral as follows.
TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 2
z=1−x− y
1−x− y z 
2

  z dV =    z dz dy dx =  
1 1−x 1 1− x
2  dy dx
E
0 0 0 0 0
  z =0
2
= 12   (1− x − y) dy dx
1 1−x

0 0

 (1− x − y) 
3 y=1− x

= 12   −
1
 dx
0
 3 y=0

 (1− x ) dx
1
= 1 3
6 0
1
1 (
 ) 1
4
1− x
= −  =
6  4  24
0
TYPE 2 REGION

A solid region E is of type 2 if it is of the form

E= (x, y, z ) ( y, z ) D,u ( y, z)  x  u ( y, z)

1 2

where D is the projection of E

onto the yz-plane.
TYPE 2 REGION
The back surface is x = u1(y, z).

The front surface is x = u2(y, z).

TYPE 2 REGION Equation 10

Thus, we have:

 f (x, y, z )dV

E

 u2 ( y,z ) f x, y, z dx  dA
= 
 u1 ( y,z )
( ) 
D
TYPE 3 REGION
Finally, a type 3 region is of the form
E= (x, y, z ) (x, z ) D,u (x, z)  y  u
1 2 (x, z )
where:

▪ D is the projection of E
onto the xz-plane.
▪ y = u1(x, z) is the left
surface.
▪ y = u2(x, z) is the right
surface.
TYPE 3 REGION Equation 11
For this type of region, we have:

 u 2( x, z) f x, y, z dy  dA
  f (x, y, z )dV =  
 u1 ( x,z ) ( ) 
E D
TYPE 2 & 3 REGIONS
In each of Equations 10 and 11, there may
be two possible expressions for the integral
depending on:

▪ Whether D is a type I or type II plane region

(and corresponding to Equations 7 and 8).
BOUNDED REGIONS Example 3
Evaluate

E
x 2 + z 2 dV

where E is the region bounded by

the paraboloid y = x2 + z2 and the plane y = 4.
TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 3
The solid E is
shown here.

If we regard it as
a type 1 region,
then we need to consider its projection D1
onto the xy-plane.
TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 3
That is the parabolic
region shown here.

▪ The trace of y = x2 + z2
in the plane z = 0 is
the parabola y = x2
TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 3

From y = x2 + z2, we obtain:

z =  y −x 2

▪ So, the lower boundary surface of E is:

z = − y −x 2
▪ The upper surface is:
z= y − x2
TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 3
Therefore, the description of E as a type 1
region is:

E=

(x, y, z ) −2  x  2, x2  y  4, − y − x2  z  y −x 2 
TYPE 1 REGIONS Example 3
Thus, we obtain:

 x2 + y 2 dV
E

y− x2
=  
2 4
x2 + z 2 dz dydx
−2 x 2 − y−x 2

▪ Though this expression is correct,

it is extremely difficult to evaluate.
TYPE 3 REGIONS Example 3
So, let’s instead consider E as a type 3
region.

▪ As such, its projection D3

onto the xz-plane is
the disk x2 + z2 ≤ 4.
TYPE 3 REGIONS Example 3
Then, the left boundary of E is the paraboloid
y = x2 + z2.

The right boundary is the plane y = 4.

TYPE 3 REGIONS Example 3
So, taking u1(x, z) = x2 + z2 and u2(x, z) = 4
in Equation 11, we have:

 4  dA
 x + y dV = 
2 2
 x2 +z 2
x 2
+ z 2
dy

E D3

= (4 − x2 − z 2 ) x2 + z 2 dA
D3
TYPE 3 REGIONS Example 3
This integral could be written as:

( )
4−x 2
 
2
4 − x 2
− z 2
x 2
+ z 2
dz dx
−2 − 4−x 2

However, it’s easier to convert to

polar coordinates in the xz-plane:
x = r cos θ, z = r sin θ
TYPE 3 REGIONS Example 3
That gives:

 x2 + z 2 dV =  (4 − x2 − z 2 ) x2 + z 2 dA
E D3

 (4 − r )r r dr d
2
=
2
2
0 0

=  d  (4r − r 4 )dr
2 2
2
0 0

r  128
2
 4r 3 5
= 2  −  =
 3 5 0 15
APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS

Recall that:
b
▪ If f(x) ≥ 0, then the single integral
represents the area under

a
f (x) dx

the curve y = f(x) from a to b.

▪ If f(x, y) ≥ 0, then the double integral  f (x, y) dA

represents the volume under D
the surface z = f(x, y) and above D.
APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
The corresponding interpretation of a triple
integral  f (x, y, z) dV, where f(x, y, z) ≥ 0,
E
is not ver y useful.

▪ It would be the “hypervolume”

of a four-dimensional (4-D) object.

▪ Of course, that is very difficult to visualize.

APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS

Remember that E is just the domain

of the function f.

▪ The graph of f lies in 4-D space.

APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS

Nonetheless, the triple integral  f (x, y, z) dV

can be interpreted in different waEys
in different physical situations.

▪ This depends on the physical interpretations

of x, y, z and f(x, y, z).

▪ Let’s begin with the special case where

f(x, y, z) = 1 for all points in E.
APPLNS. OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS Equation 12
Then, the triple integral does represent
the volume of E:

V (E ) =  dV
E
APPLNS. OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
For example, you can see this in the case
of a type 1 region by putting f(x, y, z) = 1
in Formula 6:

 u2 ( x, y) 
  1dV =   dz dA
 u1 ( x, y ) 
E D

=  u2 (x, y) − u1 (x, y) dA

D
APPLNS. OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
From Section 11.3, we know this represents
the volume that lies between the surfaces

z = u1(x, y) and z = u2(x, y)

APPLICATIONS Example 4
Use a triple integral to find the volume
of the tetrahedron T bounded by the planes

x + 2y + z = 2
x = 2y
x=0

z=0
APPLICATIONS Example 4

The tetrahedron T and its projection D

on the xy-plane are shown.
APPLICATIONS Example 4
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
APPLICATIONS Example 4
So, we have:

V (T ) =   dV =   
1 1−x / 2 2− x−2 y
dz dydx
0 x/2 0
T

=  (2 − x − 2 y )dy dx
1 1−x / 2

0 x/2
= 13

▪ This is obtained by the same calculation

as in Example 4 in Section 11.3
APPLICATIONS Example 4
Notice that it is not necessary to use
triple integrals to compute volumes.

▪ They simply give an alternative method

for setting up the calculation.
APPLICATIONS

• All the applications of double integrals

in
Section 11.5 can be immediately extended
to triple integrals.
APPLICATIONS
For example, suppose the density function
of a solid object that occupies the region E
is:
ρ(x, y, z)

in units of mass per unit volume,

at any given point (x, y, z).
MASS Equation 13

Then, its mass is:

m =   (x, y, z ) dV
E
MOMENTS Equations 14
Its moments about the three coordinate
planes are:

M yz =  x (x, y, z )dV

E

M xz =  y (x, y, z )dV

E

M xy =  z (x, y, z )dV

E
CENTER OF MASS Equations 15
The center of mass is located at the point

(x, y, z ),where:
M yz M xz M xy
x= y= z=
m m m

▪ If the density is constant, the center of mass

of the solid is called the centroid of E.
MOMENTS OF INERTIA Equations 16
The moments of inertia about the three
coordinate axes are:

I x =  (y 2 + z 2 ) (x, y, z )dV

E

I y =  (x 2
+ z 2
) (x, y, z )dV
E

I z =  (x 2 + y 2 ) (x, y, z )dV

E
TOTAL ELECTRIC CHARGE
As in Section 11.5, the total electric charge
on a solid object occupying a region E
and having charge density σ(x, y, z) is:

Q =  (x, y, z ) dV
E
JOINT DENSITY FUNCTION

If we have three continuous random variables

X, Y, and Z, their joint density function is
a function of three variables such that
the probability that (X, Y, Z) lies in E is:

P (( X ,Y , Z ) E ) =  f (x, y, z )dV

E
JOINT DENSITY FUNCTION

In particular,
P (a  X  b, c  Y  d , r  Z  s )

=   f (x, y, z )dz dy dx
b d s

a c r

The joint density function satisfies:

  
f(x, y, z) ≥ 0    f (x, y, z )dz dy dx = 1
− − −
 Example 5
Find the center of mass of a solid of constant
APPLICATIONS
density that is bounded by the parabolic
cylinder x = y2 and the planes x = z, z = 0,
and x = 1.
 Example 5
The solid E and its projection onto
APPLICATIONS
the xy-plane are shown.
APPLICATIONS Example 5
The lower and upper
surfaces of E are
the planes
z = 0 and z = x.

▪ So, we describe E
as a type 1 region:

E= 
(x, y, z ) −1  y  1, y 2

 x  1,0  z  x
APPLICATIONS Example 5
Then, if the density is ρ(x, y, z),
the mass is:
m
=   dV
E

=  
1 1 x
 dz dx dy
−1 y 2
0

=  
1 1
x dx dy
−1 y 2
APPLICATIONS Example 5
x=1
x  2
=     dy
1

−1 2
  x= y2

(1− y )dy
1
= 
4

2 −1

=   (1− y )dy
1
4
0

y 
1
 4
5
= y−  =
 5 0 5
APPLICATIONS Example 5
Due to the symmetry of E and ρ about
the xz-plane, we can immediately say that
Mxz = 0, and therefore y = 0.

The other moments are calculated

as follows.
APPLICATIONS Example 5

M yz
=  x dV
E

=  
1 1 x
x dz dx dy
−1 y 2
0

=  
1 1
2
x dx dy
−1 y 2
APPLICATIONS Example 5
x=1
x 
3
=     dy
1

−1 3
  x= y2
2 1
= 
3 0
(1− y )dy
6

 y 
1
= 2  7

y − 
3  7 0
4
=
7
APPLICATIONS Example 5

M xy =   z dV =   
1 1 x
z dz dx dy
−1 y 2
0
E
z=x
z  2
=    2   dx dy
1 1

−1 y
 2  z =0

 
1 1
= 2
x dx dy
2 −1 y 2

 2
=  (1− y )dy =
1
6

3 0 7
APPLICATIONS Example 5

Therefore, the center of mass is:

( )  M yz M xz M xy 
x, y, z = 
m
, ,
m 
 m 
= ( 7 ,0, 14 )
5 5