15

MULTIPLE INTEGRALS

MULTIPLE INTEGRALS

15.6
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

Lets 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-boxesby
dividing:
The interval [a, b] into l subintervals [xi-1, xi]
of equal width x.
[c, d] into m subintervals of width y.
[r, s] into n subintervals of width z.

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 V = x y z

TRIPLE INTEGRALS

Equation 2

Then, we form the triple Riemann sum

l

f x
i 1 j 1 k 1

*
ijk

*
ijk

*
ijk

,y ,z

*
*
*
where the sample point xijk
, yijk , zijk
is in Bijk.

TRIPLE INTEGRALS

By analogy with the definition of a double

integral (Definition 5 in Section 15.1),
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

lim

l , m , n

i 1 j 1 k 1

*
*
*
f xijk
, yijk
, zijk
V

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 dV
B

lim

l , m , n

f x , y , z V
i 1 j 1 k 1

TRIPLE INTEGRALS

Just as for double integrals, the practical

method for evaluating triple integrals is
to express them as iterated integrals, as
follows.

FUBINIS 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 dx dy dz

FUBINIS TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS)

The iterated integral on the right side of

Fubinis 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

FUBINIS 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

FUBINIS TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS) Example 1

Evaluate the triple integral

xyz dV
2

where B is the rectangular box

B x, y, z 0 x 1, 1 y 2, 0 z 3

FUBINIS 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.

FUBINIS TH. (TRIPLE INTEGRALS) Example 1

3

1 0

xyz dV
2

xyz dx dy dz

x yz

0 1
2
3

x 1

dy dz
x 0

yz

dy dz
0 1 2
3

y z

0
4

2 2

y 1

y 1

dz

3z
dz
4

z
4

27

INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION

Now, we define the triple integral over

a general bounded region E in threedimensional space (a solid) by much the same
procedure that we used for double integrals.
See Definition 2 in Section 15.3

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

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 69
in Section 15.3).

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,

x , y , z x, y D , u x , y z u
1

where D is the projection of E

onto the xy-plane.

x, y

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 15.3, it can be shown
that, if E is a type 1 region given by
Equation 5, then

f x, y, z dV
E

u2 x , y

u1 x , y

f x, y , z dz dA

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
1

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

TYPE 1 REGIONS

Equation 7

Thus, Equation 6 becomes:

f x, y, z dV

g2 ( x )

g1 ( x )

u2 ( x , y )

u1 ( x , y )

f x, y, z dz dy dx

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

TYPE 1 REGIONS

Equation 8

Then, Equation 6 becomes:

f x, y, z dV
E

h2 ( y )

h1 ( y )

u2 ( x , y )

u1 ( x , y )

f x, y , z dz dx dy

TYPE 1 REGIONS

Evaluate

Example 2

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 REGIONS

Example 2

When we set up a triple integral, its 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. 2Equation 9

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
1 1 x

1 x y

0 0

z dV
E

Example 2

z dz dy dx

1 1 x

0 0

1
2

1
2

1
6

z 1 x y

z
2

dy dx
z 0

1 1 x

1 x y
0 0

1 x y

1 x

dy dx
y 1 x

dx
y 0

dx

1 1 x

6
4

24

TYPE 2 REGION

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

x, y, z y, z D, u ( y, z ) x u ( y, z )
1

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

u2 ( y , z )

u1 ( y , z )

f x, y, z dx dA

TYPE 3 REGION

Finally, a type 3 region is of the form

x, y , z x , z D , u ( x, z ) y u

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.

x, z

TYPE 3 REGION

Equation 11

For this type of region, we have:

f x, y, z dV
D

u 2( x , z )

u1 ( x , z )

f x, y, z dy dA

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

Evaluate

Example 3

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

That is the parabolic

region shown here.
The trace of y = x2 + z2
in the plane z = 0 is
the parabola y = x2

Example 3

TYPE 1 REGIONS

Example 3

From y = x2 + z2, we obtain:

z yx

So, the lower boundary surface of E is:

z y x2
The upper surface is:

z y x2

TYPE 1 REGIONS

Example 3

Therefore, the description of E as a type 1

region is:
E

2
2
x
,
y
,
z

2,
x

4,

x
z

y x2

TYPE 1 REGIONS

Example 3

Thus, we obtain:

x y dV
2

y x2

2 x

yx

x z dz dy dx
2

Though this expression is correct,

it is extremely difficult to evaluate.

TYPE 3 REGIONS

Example 3

So, lets 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:

x y dV
2

D3

x z dy dA

x2 z 2

4 x z
2

D3

x z dA
2

TYPE 3 REGIONS

Example 3

This integral could be written as:

2

4 x2

2 4 x

4 x

x z dz dx
2

However, its easier to convert to

polar coordinates in the xz-plane:
x = r cos , z = r sin

TYPE 3 REGIONS

Example 3

That gives:

x z dV 4 x z
2

D3

x z dA
2

4 r r r dr d
d 4r r dr
2

4r r
2

5
3
3

128

15

APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS

Recall that:
If f(x) 0, then the single integral
represents the area under
the curve y = f(x) from a to b.

f ( x) dx

If f(x, y) 0, then the double integral

represents the volume under
the surface z = f(x, y) and above D.

f ( x, y) dA
D

APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS

The corresponding interpretation of a triple

integral

f ( x, y, z ) dV, where f(x, y, z) 0,

is not very 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

E
can be interpreted in different ways
in different physical situations.
This depends on the physical interpretations
of x, y, z and f(x, y, z).
Lets 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:

1
dV

u2 ( x , y )

u1 ( x , y )

dz dA

u2 ( x, y ) u1 ( x, y ) dA
D

APPLNS. OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS

From Section 15.3, 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

1 1 x / 2

x/2

x/2

2 x 2 y

dz dy dx

2 x 2 y dy dx

13
This is obtained by the same calculation
as in Example 4 in Section 15.3

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 15.5 can be immediately
extended to triple integrals.

APPLICATIONS

For example, suppose the density function

of a solid object that occupies the region E
is:
(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

M xz
y
m

M xy
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 z
2

I y x z
2

x, y, z dV

x, y, z dV

x, y, z dV

I z x y
2

TOTAL ELECTRIC CHARGE

As in Section 15.5, the total electric charge

on a solid object occupying a region E
and having charge density (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

The joint density function satisfies:

f(x, y, z) 0

f x, y, z dz dy dx 1

APPLICATIONS

Example 5

Find the center of mass of a solid of constant

density that is bounded by the parabolic
cylinder x = y2 and the planes x = z, z = 0,
and x = 1.

APPLICATIONS

Example 5

The solid E and its projection onto

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:

2
x
,
y
,
z

1,
y
x 1, 0 z x

APPLICATIONS

Example 5

Then, if the density is (x, y, z),

the mass is:

m
dV
E

1 y

1 y

dz dx dy

x dx dy

APPLICATIONS
x 1

x

1 2

1

Example 5

dy
x y2

1
4
1 y dy
2 1
1 y dy
1

y
y
5

APPLICATIONS

Example 5

Due to the symmetry of E and about

the xz-plane, we can immediately say that
Mxz = 0, and therefore y 0.
The other moments are calculated
as follows.

APPLICATIONS

M yz
x dV
E

1 y

1 y

x dz dx dy
2

x dx dy

Example 5

APPLICATIONS

x

1 3

Example 5

x 1

dy
x y2

y
dy

y
y 7

APPLICATIONS

M xy z dV
E

1 y

Example 5

z dz dx dy

z
2
1 y
2
1

zx

dx dy
z 0

1 1 2
2 x dx dy
2 1 y
1
2
6
1 y dy
3 0
7

APPLICATIONS

Example 5

Therefore, the center of mass is:

M yz M xz M xy
x, y , z
,
,

m
m
m
75 , 0, 145