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Use a double integral to find the volume of the solid in the first octant bounded by the surfaces: z = xy, z = 0, y = x and x = 1.

I did $$\int_0^1 \int_0^x (xy) \ dy\ dx$$

$$= \int_0^1 \frac12xy^2\bigg|_{y=0}^x \,dx = \int_0^1 \frac12x^3 \, dx = \frac18x^4\bigg|_0^1 = \frac{1}{8}$$

I don't think I'm right. Is this integral incorrect?

zahbaz
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Solenn
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    Wait.. did you get 1/4 or 1/8? The integral looks okay to me as does 1/8. – zahbaz Apr 17 '15 at 05:34
  • @zahbaz Oh sorry, just getting the hang of learning how to use this. I got 1/8 I have showed my work in the edits. – Solenn Apr 17 '15 at 05:36

1 Answers1

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Your work is correct. To find the volume of a figure between two surfaces, $z=f(x,y)$ and $z=g(x,y)$ where $f>g$, you need to compute the double integral

$$\iint_R f(x,y)-g(x,y) \ dy\ dx$$

The integrand is essentially the height of the volume in the $z$ direction at every point. Your height is $f - g = xy - 0 = xy$.

To choose your bounds for $R$, think of the "shadow" underneath the surfaces. Or, in your case, sketch the triangle formed with $y=x$, $y=0$, and $x=1$.

The bounds you selected match this region. $y$ ranges from $0$ until it hits line $y=x$. Imagine this as creating little vertical strips moving up the x-axis and hitting $y=x$. Then $x$ goes from $0$ to $1$. Here you're adding up all those little vertical strips to have formed your triangle $R$. But all this time, you were computing the height at each point! Hence you have a volume.

zahbaz
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