[Volume

of a Hypersphere]
Trent Swords
MATH 2401
Rebecca Winarski
4.5.2013

[ G e o r g i a I n s t i t u t e o f T e c h n o l o g y ]

Table of Contents
BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
THE PROBLEM ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
SETUP .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
CALCULATIONS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4
EXAMPLE PROBLEM .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
PHENOMENON OF DECREASING VOLUME .................................................................................................... 5
REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS .......................................................................................................................... 7
WORKS CITED ....................................................................................................................................................... 8

Background

The volume of a sphere in the second and third dimension can be determined by
evaluating the double and triple integrals of their respective densities. While the volume can be
calculated using rectangular coordinates, it is often easier to evaluate the volume using spherical
coordinates. In two dimensions, the corresponding values for x and y are as follows: =
cos and = sin . The resulting integral is:

!! !
,
!
!

where r is the integrating

factor.
The equations for the sphere is ! + ! + ! = ! , where is the radius of the sphere.
When we convert this equation into polar coordinates, the corresponding values for x, y, and z
are as follows: = sin() cos(), = sin() sin(), and = cos(). The resulting
integral is:

!! ! ! !

!
! !

sin , where ! sin is the integrating factor.

The Problem
Setup
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate how to calculate the volume of a fourdimensional hypersphere. The bounds for the quadruple integral are found by solving for w in the
equation for the hypersphere: ! + ! + ! + ! = ! . Consequently, the bounds for w are as
follows: ! ! ! ! , where r is the distance from the origin to the boundary
of the hypersphere. Since the volume of the hypersphere being evaluated is not specified, the
radius of the hypersphere will be evaluated on the bounds from 0 to r (0 ). Since we
are just using spherical coordinates with an additional integral, we can use the same bounds for
and as if we were calculating the volume in three dimensions. Consequently, the bounds for
the variables are 0 and 0 2.

Calculations
!!

!
!!

! sin

! ! ! !!!

!
!

! ! !!!

2 ! ! ! sin

By using one of the properties of triple integrals, we can break the equation downs to three
separate integrals to simplify calculations.
!!

sin
!

!!
!

! ! !

cos

!
!

! ! !

!
!

2 2 0 1 1

! ! !

!
!

! ! !

Now, in order to evaluate this integral, I had to utilize a reference of proved integral from
the back of the textbook because this cannot be evaluated using a standard u-substitution or a
common trigonometric substitution. The following is the general formula for the trigonometric
substitution:
! ! ! =

2! !
8

! ! +

[sin!!
]
8

By substituting in for u and r in for a, we get the following formula:

! ! ! =

2! !
8

8
2! !
8

! ! +

[sin!!
]
8

+ [sin!!
]
8

!
!


8 [ 2 ! !
8
8

+ [sin!! ( )]]
8

!
!
0 +
00
8
8 2
8

!
8 2

!!
2

Example Problem
If asked to determine the volume of the four-dimensional hypersphere at a radius other
than 1, one just has to substitute the radius r with the radius of the hypersphere that he or she is
trying to evaluate. For example, if one is trying to determine the volume of a four-dimensional
hypersphere with radius 2, the volume would be as follows:
! 2! 16 !
=
= 8 !
2
2

Phenomenon of Decreasing Volume

The two-dimensional volume of the unit disc is , the three-dimensional volume of the

unit ball is

!!

, and the volume of the unit ball in the fourth dimension is

!

!!
!

. By looking at this

trend in volume, it appears that the volume of the unit ball increases as the dimension of the ball
increases. While this seems intuitive that the volume of hypersphere would increase is the
dimensions of the ball increases, this is actually not the case. One of reasons why this problem is
very intriguing is not what lies in the fourth dimension, but what lies in higher dimensions. As
the dimensions of a given hypersphere increases, the volume of the hypersphere actually begins
to eventually decrease.

The following is a graph of the volume of the unit hypersphere against the dimension of
the ball n. The volume of the hypersphere increases up unto the fifth dimension, and then
decreases rapidly. The volume of the hypersphere approaches 0 as the number of dimensions n
approaches infinity.

In order to better understand this phenomenon, let us take a look at the general formula
for calculating the volume of a hypersphere in higher dimensions:

Since the gamma, a function that generalizes the factorial function, may be difficult to
understand, the following are more simplified versions derived from the general formula above:
!

! ! ! !
!
!

( )!

!!!

for even dimensions n, and =

! ! !!!!!! ! !
(!!!)!

for odd dimensions n

If we take a closer look at both of these equations for volume, it should not be surprising
that the volume of a hypersphere of radius r eventually decreases. The denominator has a
factorial term, which grows faster than any power would. Consequently, the magnitude of the
denominator eventually exceeds that of the numerator, ultimately approaching zero.

Real-World Applications
The fourth and higher dimensions have few known applications in the real world, in
mathematics and beyond. Within the field of mathematics, fourth dimension is most commonly
used in multi-vector calculations. It is not uncommon for data points to be represented by
vectors in higher dimensions. Another interesting application involves the concept of a
wormhole. A wormhole is defined as a tunnel through space-time that allows to traverse vast
distances almost instantaneously. Although I will not expand on this concept, wormholes are a
fascinating concept to ponder, as it remains theoretical. In conclusion, while higher dimensional
calculations may not currently have very many real-world applications, their importance may lie
in future applications that we have not yet discovered.

Works Cited
Ajmani, Nimish. Higher Dimensions: Visualization and Practical Application. Web. 2 April.
2013. <http://capstones.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/higher_dimensions.pdf>
Koshy, Jaime. Volumes of a Hypersphere. n.p., n.d. Web. 2 April. 2013.
<http://math.la.asu.edu/~nbrewer/Fall2007/MAT267/JaimeKoshy/JaimeKoshy11.html>
Pickover, Clifford A. A Passion for Mathematics: Numbers, Puzzles, Madness, Religion, and the
Quest for Reality. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2005.
Salas, Hille, and Etgen. Calculus: One and Several Variables. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2007.
Su, Francis E., et al. "Volume of a Ball in N Dimensions." Math Fun Facts.
<http://www.math.hmc.edu/funfacts>.