Can you help me with this double integral?

#intint_D (y^2-x)dA# where D is limited by y=x-6 , #y^2=x#

2 Answers
Jun 11, 2018

Please see below.

Explanation:

Sketch the region #D#, shown below.

enter image source here

Now describe the region so that we can integrate either w.r.t #x# first and then #y# or integrate first w.r.t. #y#, the #x#.

We can describe the region in either of two ways.

Method 1
One description notes that we can integrate with respect to #x# second, using constant limits of i=ntegration #0# and #9#.
But not really.

As #x# varies from #0# to #4#, the values of #y# go from the lower half parabola (#y = -sqrtx#) to the upper half parabola (#y = sqrtx#).
The bounds on #y# are different as #x# varies from #4# to #9#

This lead to the two double integrals

#int_0^4 int_(-sqrtx)^(sqrtx)(y^2-x) \ dy \ dx + int_4^9 int_(x-6)^(sqrtx) (y^2-x) \ dy \ dx#

Method 2
I think it is simpler to note that #y# varies from #-2# to #3#,
and on that entire interval, #x# varies from the parabola (#x=y^2#) to the line (#x=y-6#)

This allows us to use the one double integral:

#int_(-2)^3 int_(y^2)^(y+6) (y^2-x) \ dx \ dy#.

Jun 11, 2018

I believe the following to be a correct way to do this integration but I will request a double check so that one of my peers will review it.

Explanation:

Express the limits as x in terms of y:

#x = y^2, x = y+6#

The following is a graph of the area:

www.desmos.com

In terms of x, #y^2# is the lower limit, therefore, the integration with respect to x is from #y^2# to #y+6#:

#int int_(y^2)^(y+6) (y^2-x)dxdy#

There are two ways to find the limits of y, solve the quadratic that results from setting #y^2# equal to #y + 6#, or observe the y coordinate where the line insects the parabola; I shall do the former:

#y^2 = y+6#

#y^2 -y - 6 = 0#

#(y+2)(y-3) = 0#

#y=-2 and y=3#

Please observe that the graph confirms this result.

The integration with respect to y is from #-2# to #3#:

#int_-2^3 int_(y^2)^(y+6) (y^2-x)dxdy#

Integrate with respect to x:

#int_-2^3 {:y^2x-1/2x^2|_(y^2)^(y+6)dy#

Evaluate at the limits:

#int_-2^3 y^2(y+6)-1/2(y+6)^2-y^2(y^2)+1/2(y^2)^2dy#

Simplify:

#int_-2^3 -y^4/2 + y^3 + (11 y^2)/2 - 6 y - 18dy#

Integrate:

# -y^5/10 + y^4/4 + (11 y^3)/6 - 3 y^2 - 18 y |_-2^3#

Evaluate at the limits:

# -(3)^5/10 + (3)^4/4 + (11 (3)^3)/6 - 3 (3)^2 - 18 (3)- (-(-2)^5/10 + (-2)^4/4 + (11 (-2)^3)/6 - 3 (-2)^2 - 18 (-2)) = -625/12#