1

Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Apart from finding the area of region, surface area and volume by using double
integrals, its application can be extended further in finding the mass, moment, center
of mass (or centroid), moment inertia for lamina.

Any flat object with negligible thickness is called a lamina. Some examples of lamina
are shown as follows:




(a) Homogeneous Lamina (b) Non-homogeneous Lamina

A lamina with regular shape and made from same material is called homogeneous
lamina, and its density function, ( , ) x y o is constant k.

A lamina with irregular shape is called non-homogeneous lamina, and its density
function, ( , ) x y o is expressed in terms of x and y.



If a lamina with continuous density function ( , ) x y o occupies a region R in the xy-
plane , its total mass m is given by:


, ( , )
R
Mass m x y dA o =
}}





Application of Double Integrals
Application of Double Integrals: (a) Calculating the Mass of a Lamina

2
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Example 1
A lamina bounded by x-axis, x = 1 and the curve
2
y x = has density ( , ) x y x y o = + . Find its
total mass.
Solution
, ( , )
R
Mass m x y dA o =
}}


1
0 0
1 2
0 0
1 2
0
1 3
2
0
1
5 2
2
0
2
( )
0
2
2
2
5 4
2 1
5 4
13
20
y x x
x y
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x y dydx
y
xy dx
x
x x dx
x
x dx
x
x
= =
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
= +
(
= +
(

= +
= +
(
= +
(

= +
=
} }
}
}
}


Example 2
A triangular lamina with vertices (0, 0), (0,1) and (1, 0) has density ( , ) x y xy o = . Find its total
mass.
Solution
Equation of line: y mx c = +
1 0
, 1
0 1
slope m

= =

and y-intercept, c = 1
Hence, the equation of line which connects the points (0,1) and (1,0) is given by:
1 y x = +
2
y x =

R
3
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

, ( , )
R
Mass m x y dA o =
}}


1 1
0 0
1
1 2
0 0
1 2
0
1 2
0
1
3 2
0
1
4 3 2
0
2
( 1)
0
2
( 2 1)
2
1
2
2
1 2
2 4 3 2
1 1 2 1
0
2 4 3 2
1
24
y x x
x y
y x
x
x y
x
x
x
x
x
x
xy dydx
xy
dx
x x
dx
x x x
dx
x x x dx
x x x
= + =
= =
= +
=
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
(
=
(

( +
=
(

( +
=
(

= +
(
= +
(

( | |
= +
| (
\ .
=
} }
}
}
}
}




Moment of mass of an object taken at a point (x,y), is the quantity of distance
multiplies its mass.

For a lamina with region R, the moment taken about the y-axis is given by:

( , )
y
R
M x x y dA o =
}}


For a lamina with region R, the moment taken about the x-axis is given by:

( , )
x
R
M y x y dA o =
}}



Application of Double Integrals: (b) Calculating the Moment of a Lamina

4
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Example 1
A triangular lamina with vertices (0, 0), (0,1) and (1, 0) has density ( , ) x y xy o = . Find its
moment of mass about x-axis.
Solution
Moment of mass about x-axis:
( , )
x
R
M y x y dA o =
}}


1 1
0 0
1
1 3
0 0
1 3
0
1 3 2
0
1 4 3 2
0
1
5 4 2
3
0
( )
3
( 1)
3
( 3 3 1)
3
3 3
3
1 3
3 5 4 2
1 1 3 1
1
3 5 4 2
1
60
x
x
y xy dydx
xy
dx
x x
dx
x x x x
dx
x x x x
dx
x x x
x
+
+
=
(
=
(

+
=
+ +
=
+ +
=
(
= + +
(

| |
= + +
|
\ .
=
} }
}
}
}
}




A point in a lamina where it is in a state of equilibrium is called center of mass,
which can be obtained by dividing the moment of mass about y-axis and x-axis by the
mass.



Application of Double Integrals: (c) Calculating the Center of Mass of a Lamina

5
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

For a non-homogeneous lamina, the center of mass, ( , ) x y is given by:
( , ) ,
y
x
M
M
x y
m m
| |
=
|
\ .

where
( , )
( , )
R
R
x x y dA
x
x y dA
o
o
=
}}
}}
and
( , )
( , )
R
R
y x y dA
y
x y dA
o
o
=
}}
}}


While for a homogeneous lamina, the center of mass, ( , ) x y , is termed as centroid,
which is given by:


1
R
x xdA
Areaof R
=
}}
and
1
R
y ydA
Areaof R
=
}}


Example 1
A lamina bounded by x-axis, x = 1 and the curve
2
y x = has density function ( , ) x y x y o = + .
Find its center of mass.
Solution
From Example 1 in in Section (a),
the mass of lamina,
13
20
m =
( , )
y
R
M x x y dA o =
}}


1
0 0
1
2
0 0
1 2
2
0 0
1 2
2
0
1 5 2
2
0
( )
)
2
( )
( ) 0
2
2
x
x
x
x x y dydx
x xy dydx
xy
x y dx
x x
x x dx
x
x dx
= +
= +
(
= +
(

(
= +
(

= +
} }
} }
}
}
}

2
y x =

R
6
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals


1
7
3
2
0
2
7 6
19
42
x x
(
(
= +
(
(

=


( , )
x
R
M y x y dA o =
}}


1
0 0
1
2
0 0
1 2 3
0 0
1 2 3
0
3
1 2
2
0
1
5
3
2
0
( )
2 3
( ) ( )
0
2 3
2 3
2
6 15
3
10
x
x
x
y x y dydx
xy y dydx
xy y
dx
x x x
dx
x x
dx
x x
= +
= +
(
= +
(

(
= +
(

= +
(
(
= +
(
(

=
} }
} }
}
}
}


( , ) ,
y
x
M
M
x y
m m
| |
=
|
\ .


3 19
10 42
,
13 13
20 20
190 6
,
273 13
| |
|
=
|
|
\ .
| |
=
|
\ .


7
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Example 2
Find the centroid of the circular lamina which is above the x-axis and between the circle
2 2
4 x y + = and
2 2
9. x y + =
Solution
The circular lamina is shown in the following figure.








The circular lamina is symmetrical about y-axis, and thus, 0 x = .
3
0 2
sin
r
R r
ydA r rdrd
u t
u
u u
= =
= =
=
}} } }

| |
3
3
0 2
0
0
sin
3
19
sin
3
19
cos
3
19
[ ( 1) ( 1)]
3
38
3
r
d
d
u t
u
u t
u
t
u u
u u
u
=
=
=
=
(
=
(

=
=
=
=
}
}

Area of region R 1
R
dA =
}}


3
0 2
r
r
rdrd
u t
u
u
= =
= =
=
} }

2 2
9 x y + =

2 2
4 x y + =

R
8
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals


3
2
0 2
0
2
5
2
5
2
r
d
d
u t
u
u t
u
u
u
t
=
=
=
=
(
=
(

=
=
}
}

1 1 38 76
5 3 15
2
R
y ydA
Areaof R t t
| |
= = =
|
| |
\ .
|
\ .
}}

76
( , ) 0,
15
x y
t
| |
=
|
\ .




Moment of inertia (or second moment) can be defined as a measure of tendency of
matter to resist a change in rotational motion, which is given by:

Moment of inertia about y-axis:
2
( , )
y
R
I x x y dA o =
}}


Moment of inertia about x-axis:
2
( , )
x
R
I y x y dA o =
}}

Moment of inertia about z-axis (or origin):
2 2
( ) ( , )
o x y
R
I x y x y dA I I o = + = +
}}

Example 1
A triangular lamina with vertices (0, 0), (0,1) and (1, 0) has density ( , ) x y xy o = . Find its
moment of inertia about y-axis.


Application of Double Integrals: (d) Calculating the Moment of Inertia of a
Lamina

9
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Solution
2
( , )
y
R
I x x y dA o =
}}


1 1
2
0 0
1 1
3
0 0
1
1 3 2
0 0
1
3 2
0
1
3 2
0
1
6 5 4
0
( )
2
1
( 1) 0
2
1
( 2 1)
2
1 2
2 6 5 4
1
120
y x x
x y
y x x
x y
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x xy dydx
x ydydx
x y
dx
x x dx
x x x dx
x x x
= + =
= =
= + =
= =
+
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
(
=
(

( = +

( = +

(
= +
(

=
} }
} }
}
}
}




Apart from finding the volume of a solid, similarly to the double integrals, the triple
integrals can be applied to find the mass, moment, center of gravity (or centroid), and
moment inertia for a solid.
In 3-D: Solid
Mass, ( , , )
G
m x y z dV o =
}}}

If ( , , ) x y z c o = , where c is a constant,
G
m dA =
}}}
is volume.
Moment of Mass
a. About yz-plane, ( , , )
yz
G
M x x y z dV o =
}}}

b. About xz-plane, ( , , )
xz
G
M y x y z dV o =
}}}

c. About xy-plane, ( , , )
xy
G
M z x y z dV o =
}}}

Application of Triple Integrals
10
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

Centre of Gravity / Centroid
( , , ) , ,
yz xy
xz
M M
M
x y z
m m m
| |
=
|
\ .


Moment Inertia
a. About x-axis,
2 2
( ) ( , , )
x
G
I y z x y z dV o = +
}}}

b. About y-axis,
2 2
( ) ( , , )
y
G
I x z x y z dV o = +
}}}

c. About z-axis,
2 2
( ) ( , , )
z
G
I x y x y z dV o = +
}}}



Example 1
Find the centroid of the solid with constant density , where the solid is bounded below by
the right circular cone
2 2
z x y = + and above by the plane z = 4. Given that the mass of the
solid is
64
3
t .
Solution
The solid G is shown in the following diagram.
The solid is symmetrical about x-axis and y-axis, hence,
the coordinate x and y for its centroid are 0, i.e.
x = 0 and y = 0.
( , , )
xy
G
M z x y z dV o =
}}}


2 4 4
0 0
4
2 4 2
0 0
2 4 3
0 0
4
2 4
2
0 0
2
8
2
4
8
r z
r z r
r
r r
r
r
zdzrdrd
rz
drd
r
r drd
r
r d
u t
u
u t
u
u t
u
u t
u
u
u
u
u
= = =
= = =
= =
= =
= =
= =
=
=
=
(
=
(

=
(
=
(

} } }
} }
} }
}

2 2
z x y = +
plane z = 4
2 2 2
z x y r r = + = =
11
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals

=
2
0
32
64
d
u t
u
u
t
=
=
=
=
}

Given that the mass of solid,

64
3
m t =

64
3
64
3
xy
M
z
m
t
t
= = =

Hence, the centroid of solid is:
( ) ( , , ) 0, 0, 3 x y z =


Example 2
A solid is bounded above by sphere 1 = and below by cone
3
t
| = . Calculate its moment of
inertia about z-axis if its density is ( , , ) 2 x y z o = .
Solution
Moment of Inertia,
2 2
( ) ( , , )
z
G
I x y x y z dV o = +
}}}


2 2
2 ( )
G
x y dV = +
}}}

By using spherical coordinate,
1 2 3
2 2 2
0 0 0
2 [( cos sin ) ( sin sin ) ] sin
z
I d d d
t
|
u t
u |
u | u | | | u
=
= =
= = =
= +
} } }


1 2 3
4 3
0 0 0
1
2 5 3
3
0 0
0
2 sin
2 sin
5
d d d
d d
t
|
u t
u |
t
|
u t
u |
| | u

| | u
=
= =
= = =
=
=
= =
=
(
=
(

} } }
} }

12
Chapter 2: Multiple Integrals


2 3
3
0 0
2 3
2
0 0
2 3
2
0 0
2 3
3
0 0
2
0
2
0
2
sin
5
2
sin sin
5
2
(1 cos ) sin
5
2 cos
cos
5 3
2 1 1 1
( 1 )
5 2 24 3
1
12
1
6
d d
d d
d d
d
d
d
t
|
u t
u |
t
|
u t
u |
t
|
u t
u |
t
u t
u
u t
u
u t
u
| | u
| | | u
| | | u
|
| u
u
u
t
=
=
= =
=
=
= =
=
=
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
(
= +
(

( | |
= + +
| (
\ .
=
=
} }
} }
} }
}
}
}




Use technique of substitution:
2
2
3
3
cos
sin
(1 cos ) sin
(1 )( )
3
cos
cos
3
u
du d
d
u du
u
u
|
| |
| | |
|
|
=
=

=
= +
= +
}
}