Mass as Triple Integrals in Rectangular

Coordinates
Mathematics 23: Elementary Analysis III

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines-Diliman

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Motivation
Recall:

If R be a closed and bounded region in the xy -plane and

f (x, y) ≥ 0 for all (x, y) ∈ R, then
ZZ
f (x, y)dA = Volume of the solid bounded above by the
R surface z = f (x, y) and below by the region R.
If f (x, y) is the density function of a lamina R, then
ZZ
f (x, y)dA = Mass of the lamina R.
R

To dene the triple integral of functions of three variables, we seek to

nd the mass of a solid with a given density function.

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Mass Problem
Let G be a rectangular box with faces parallel to the three coordinate
planes, that is,
G = [a, b] × [c, d] × [r, s]
= {(x, y, z) | a ≤ x ≤ b, c ≤ y ≤ d, r ≤ z ≤ s} .

Suppose that the density at a point (x, y, z) ∈ G is f (x, y, z).

Goal: Find the mass M of G.

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Mass Problem
Partition G into subboxes by dividing
[a, b] into l subintervals [xi−1 , xi ], each of length ∆x,
[c, d] into m subintervals [yj−1 , yj ], each of length ∆y , and
[r, s] into n subintervals [zk−1 , zk ], each of length ∆z ,
i = 1, 2, . . . , l, j = 1, 2, . . . , m, and k = 1, 2, . . . , n.

Let the subbox Bijk = [xi−1 , xi ] × [yj−1 , yj ] × [zk−1 , zk ].

The volume of each Bijk is given by
∆V = ∆x∆y∆z.

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Mass Problem

Renumber the subboxes (the order

does not matter) and call them
B` , ` = 1, 2, . . . , N .
Take a point (x∗` , y`∗ , z`∗ ) in each B`
and assume that B` has a constant
density f (x∗` , y`∗ , z`∗ ).

It follows that
mass of B` = (density) × (volume)
≈ f (x∗` , y`∗ , z`∗ )∆V.

A good approximation for the mass M of G is

N
X
M≈ f (x∗` , y`∗ , z`∗ ) ∆V.
`=1

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Mass Problem

We dene the norm of the partition kP k as the longest diagonal

of each subbox.
A good approximation for the mass is given by
N
X
M≈ f (x∗` , y`∗ , z`∗ ) ∆V.
`=1

As kP k → 0, (or if the partitioning is uniform, as in our case,

then as N → ∞) then
N
X
M = lim f (x∗` , y`∗ , z`∗ ) ∆V.
kP k→0
`=1

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Triple Integrals as Mass

Denition
The triple integral of f (x, y, z) over the rectangular solid G is
dened as the limit
N
X
lim f (x∗` , y`∗ , z`∗ ) ∆V,
kP k→0
`=1

provided this limit exists and is this same for every choice of
(x∗k , yk∗ , zk∗ ) in B` . We denote this limit by
ZZZ
f (x, y, z) dV
G

In this case, we say f is integrable over G.

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Properties of the Triple Integral
Theorem
If f (x, y, z) is continuous for all (x, y, z) ∈ G, then f is integrable
over G.

Remarks:
1 If c is a constant, then

ZZZ ZZZ
cf (x, y, z) dV = c f (x, y, z) dV.
ZZZ G G
2 [f (x, y, z) ± g(x, y, z)] dV
G ZZZ ZZZ
= f (x, y, z) dV ± g(x, y, z) dV.
G G
3 If G = G1 ∪ G2 such that G1 and G2 do not overlap, then
ZZZ ZZZ ZZZ
f (x, y, z) dV = f (x, y, z) dV + f (x, y, z) dV.
G G1 G2

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Evaluating Triple Integrals Over a Rectangular Box

The following is an extension of the Fubini's Theorem to triple

integrals.

Theorem
If f is continuous on the box G = [a, b] × [c, d] × [r, s], then

ZZZ Z s Z d Z b
f (x, y, z) dV = f (x, y, z) dx dy dz.
r c a
G

Remark. There are ve other possible orders in which the above
integral may be evaluated: dx dz dy , dy dx dz , dy dz dx, dz dx dy and
dz dy dx.

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Triple Integrals over Rectangular Solids
Example
ZZZ
Evaluate (2x + y sin z) dV , where G = [−1, 1] × [0, 2] × [0, π2 ].
G

Solution:
π
ZZZ Z 2
Z 2 Z 1
(2x + y sin z) dV = (2x + y sin z) dx dy dz
0 0 −1
G
π
Z 2
Z 2
= 2y sin z dy dz
0 0
Z π
2
= 4 sin z dz
0
 π2
= −4 cos z 

0
= 4.

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Triple Integrals over Rectangular Solids
Example
ZZZ
Evaluate (2x + y sin z) dV , where G = [−1, 1] × [0, 2] × [0, π2 ].
G

Alternate Solution: Dierent order of integration

π
ZZZ Z 1 Z 2
Z 2
(2x + y sin z) dV = (2x + y sin z) dy dz dx
−1 0 0
G
π
Z 1 Z 2
= (4x + 2 sin z) dz dx
−1 0
Z 1
= (2πx + 2) dx
−1

x=1
= πx2 + 2x 
x=−1
= 4.

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Triple Integrals Over General Solids

Denition
Let f be a continuous function of x, y and z on a solid G. Consider
any rectangular box E = [a, b] × [c, d] × [r, s] that encloses G and
dene a function F by

f (x, y, z) if (x, y, z) ∈ G
(
F (x, y, z) = .
0 if (x, y, z) ∈ E \ G
The triple integral of f over G is dened by
ZZZ ZZZ
f (x, y, z) dV := F (x, y, z) dV .
G E

To evaluate triple integrals over general solids, we classify simple

solids as type xy , type xz , or type yz .

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Solids of Type xy
Denition
A simple solid G is of type xy if it lies between two surfaces with
equations z = g1 (x, y) and z = g2 (x, y) for all points (x, y) in a region
R on the xy -plane; that is,

G = {(x, y, z) | g1 (x, y) ≤ z ≤ g2 (x, y), (x, y) ∈ R} .

Credit: H Anton, I Bivens, and S Davis, Calculus Early Transcendentals 10th Ed. p1041, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Solids of Type xy
To evaluate a triple integral of f (x, y, z) over a simple solid G of type
xy , we have the following theorem:
Theorem
Let G be a solid of type xy and let R be its projection onto the
xy -plane. Then
ZZZ ZZ Z g2 (x,y)
f (x, y, z) dV = f (x, y, z) dz dA .
g1 (x,y)
G R

Surface below, z = g1 (x, y)

⇒ lower limit of inner integral
Surface above, z = g2 (x, y)
⇒ upper limit of inner integral

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Solids of Type xy
Example
ZZZ
Evaluate 6xy dV , where G is the solid bounded by the planes
G
x = 0, y = 0, x + y + z = 1 and x + y − z = 1.

G is a type xy solid, bounded below by z = x + y − 1 and above by

z =1−x−y
R is the projection of G onto the xy -plane
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Solids of Type xy

ZZZ ZZ Z 1−x−y
6xy dV = 6xy dz dA
x+y−1
G R
Z 1 Z 1−x Z 1−x−y
= 6xy dz dy dx
0 0 x+y−1

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Z 1 Z 1−x Z 1−x−y
6xy dz dy dx
0 0 x+y−1
Z 1 Z 1−x z=1−x−y
= 6xyz  dy dx

0 0 z=x+y−1
Z 1 Z 1−x
12xy − 12x2 y − 12xy 2 dy dx


=
0 0
Z 1
y=1−x
= 6xy 2 − 6x2 y 2 − 4xy 3  dx
0 y=0
Z 1
= 2x(1 − x)3 dx
0

Let u = 1 − x, du = −dx
Z 0 Z 1
= − 2(1 − u)u3 du = (2u3 − 2u4 ) du
1 0
 1
u4 2u5

 = 1 .

= −
2 5 
0 10

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Solids of Type xy
Example
ZZZ
Evaluate x dV , where G is the solid in the rst quadrant
G
bounded by the surfaces y + z = 4 and y = 4 − x2 , y = 0.

G is a type xy solid, bounded below by z = 0 and above by z = 4 − y .

The projection of G onto the xy -plane is the region bounded by the
curve y = 4 − x2 in the rst quadrant.
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Solids of Type xy
ZZZ ZZ Z 4−y
x dV = x dz dA
0
G R
Z 2 Z 4−x2 Z 4−y
= x dzdydx
0 0 0
Z 2 Z 4−x2 z=4−y
= xz  dydx

0 0 z=0
Z 2 Z 4−x2
= 4x − xy dydx
0 0
2 2
xy 2 y=4−x
Z 
= 4xy − dx
2

0 y=0
2
x5
Z
= 8x − dx
0 2
 x6 x=2 32
= 4x2 − = .
12 x=0 3


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Exercise

1 Find the mass of G = [0, 2] × [0, 1] × [0, 3] whose density function

is f (x, y, z) = xy + z 2 .
2 Evaluate
ZZZ
the following triple integrals:
a. (x + 2y) dV , where G is the tetrahedron enclosed by the

G
three coordinate planes and the plane 2x − 3y − z = 6
Z 3 Z 1 Z √1−x2
b. xey dz dx dy
0 0 0

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