Multiple Integrals

Multiple integrals are integrals that involve two or more integrations of

functions in the real domain. They are used in multivariable calculus.
What are multiple integrals used for?

• Double integrals: Used to find the volume under a surface and

above the 𝑥𝑦-plane
• Triple integrals: Used to find the volume under a surface in three
dimensions

How to solve multiple integrals?

1. Start with the innermost integral and evaluate it first.

2. Evaluate the next integral, moving from inside to outside.

3. Evaluate the outermost integral last.

What are some examples of multiple integrals?

• Double integrals: The volume under the surface 𝒛 = 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) and

above the 𝒙𝒚-plane
• Triple integrals: The volume under a surface in three dimensions
Volume under the surface 𝒛 = 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚)

The graph of 𝒛 = 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) is a curved surface above the 𝑥𝑦 plane. At the point

(𝑥, 𝑦) in the plane, the height of the surface is 𝑧. (The surface is above the xy
plane only when 𝒛 is positive. Volumes below the plane come with minus signs,
like areas below the 𝒙 axis.) We begin by choosing a positive function-for example
𝒛 = 𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 . The base of our solid is a region 𝑹 in the xy plane. That
region will be chopped into small rectangles (sides ∆𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∆𝑦). When 𝑹 itself is
the rectangle 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1, 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2, the small pieces fit perfectly. For a triangle
or a circle, the rectangles miss part of 𝑹. But they do fit in the limit, and any region
with a piecewise smooth boundary will be acceptable.

Question What is the volume above 𝑹 and below the graph of 𝒛 = 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚)?
Answer: It is a double integral-the integral of 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) over R.

Evaluating Double Integrals over Rectangular Region:

If 𝒇 has both positive and negative values on 𝑹, then a positive value for the
double integral of 𝒇 over 𝑹 means that there is more volume above 𝑹 than below, a
negative value for the double integral means that there is more volume below 𝑹
than above, and a value of zero means that the volume above 𝑹 is the same as the
volume below 𝑹.
If the case when the region 𝑅 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏, 𝑐 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝑑} is a rectangular
region, the double integral can be evaluated as:
𝒃 𝒅 𝒃 𝒅

∫ ∫ 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙 = ∫ [∫ 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) 𝒅𝒚] 𝒅𝒙

𝒂 𝒄 𝒂 𝒄

or
𝒅 𝒃 𝒅 𝒃

∫ ∫ 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚 = ∫ [∫ 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) 𝒅𝒙] 𝒅𝒚

𝒄 𝒂 𝒄 𝒂

This two-stage integration process is called iterated (or repeated) integration.

We introduce the following notation

 𝟑 𝟐
2. Evaluate the integral ∫𝟎 ∫𝟎 (𝟒 − 𝒚𝟐 ) 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙.
3 2 2
= ∫ (∫ 4𝑑𝑦 − ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦) 𝑑𝑥
0 0 0

3 2
𝑦3
=∫ [|4𝑦|20 − | | ] 𝑑𝑥
0 3 0

3
23 03
= ∫ [(4(2) − 4(0)) − ( − )] 𝑑𝑥
0 3 3
 3
3
24 − 8 16
=∫ [ ] 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥
0 3 3
0

16 3 16 16
= | 𝑥| = (3) − (0) = 16
3 0 3 3

𝟑 𝟎
3. Find the value of ∫𝟎 ∫−𝟐(𝒙𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟐𝒙𝒚)𝒅𝒚𝒅𝒙.
3 0 0

= ∫ [ ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑑𝑦 − ∫ 2𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦] 𝑑𝑥
0 −2 −2

3 0 0
2
𝑦2 𝑦2
= ∫ [𝑥 | | − 2𝑥 | | ] 𝑑𝑥 =
2 −2 2 −2
0

3
02 (−2)2
2
02 (−2)2
= ∫ [𝑥 ( − ) − 2𝑥 ( − )] 𝑑𝑥
2 2 2 2
0

3 3
4 4
= ∫ 𝑥 2 (− ) − 2𝑥 (− ) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫(−2x 2 + 4𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
2 2
0 0

3 3
2𝑥 3 4𝑥 2 2
= |− | +| | = − [33 − 03 ] + 2[33 − 03 ]
3 0 2 0 3

2
= − (27) + 2(9) = −18 + 18 = 0
3
 𝟐𝝅 𝝅
4. Solve ∫𝝅 ∫𝟎 (𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒚)𝒅𝒙𝒅𝒚.
2𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 2𝜋

∫ [∫ sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ cos 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 ] 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ [|− cos 𝑥|𝜋0 + cos 𝑦 (|𝑥|𝜋0 )] 𝑑𝑦

𝜋 0 0 𝜋

2𝜋

= ∫ [−(cos 𝜋 − cos 0) + cos 𝑦 (𝜋 − 0)] 𝑑𝑦

𝜋

2𝜋 2𝜋

= ∫ [−(−1 − 1) + 𝜋 cos 𝑦] 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ [2 + 𝜋 cos 𝑦]𝑑𝑦

𝜋 𝜋

= |2𝑦|2𝜋 2𝜋
𝜋 + 𝜋|sin 𝑦|𝜋 = 2(2𝜋 − 𝜋) + 𝜋(sin 2𝜋 − sin 𝜋) = 2𝜋 + 0 = 2𝜋
Notice that we obtained the same answer whether we integrated with respect to y
or x first. In general, it turns out that the two iterated integrals in Equations and are
always equal; that is, the order of integration does not matter.
 𝟎 𝟏 𝒚𝟖
Question: Find the value of ∫−𝟏 ∫−𝟏 (𝟕𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓
− 𝟏) 𝒅𝒚𝒅𝒙.

(do it yourself)
How to define integration over a region by using intervals?
Example 5:
Find the volume of the solid lying under the surface

𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝟏 − 𝟔𝒙𝟐 𝒚
and over the region 𝑹: 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟐, − 𝟏 ≤ 𝒚 ≤ 𝟏.
Solution:
𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 = ∬𝑹 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚)𝒅𝑨
2 1

= ∫ ∫( 1 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
0 −1

2 1 1

= ∫ ( ∫ 1𝑑𝑦 − 6𝑥 2 ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑦) 𝑑𝑥
0 −1 −1

2 1 2
1 2
𝑦2 2
12 (−1)2
= ∫ (|𝑦|−1 − 6𝑥 | | ) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ ((1 − (−1)) − 6𝑥 [ − ]) 𝑑𝑥
2 −1 2 2
0 0

2 2 2

= ∫(2 − 3𝑥 2 [1 − 1])𝑑𝑥 = ∫(2 − 3𝑥 2 (0))𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 2𝑑𝑥 = |2𝑥|20 = 2(2) − 0

0 0 0

=4
6. Find the volume of the solid lying under the surface
𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝟏
and over the region 𝑹: − 𝟏 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏, − 𝟏 ≤ 𝒚 ≤ 𝟎.

Solution: 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 = ∬𝑹 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚)𝒅𝑨

1 0

= ∫ ∫( 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
−1 −1

1 0 0 0

= ∫ ( ∫ 𝑥𝑑𝑦 + ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑦 + ∫ 𝑑𝑦) 𝑑𝑥

−1 −1 −1 −1

1 0
𝑦2
= ∫ (𝑥|𝑦|0−1 + | | + |𝑦|0−1 ) 𝑑𝑥
2 −1
−1

1
02 (−1)2
= ∫ (𝑥(0 − (−1)) + [ − ] + (0 − (−1))) 𝑑𝑥
2 2
−1

1 1
1 1
= ∫ (𝑥 − + 1) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ (𝑥 + ) 𝑑𝑥
2 2
−1 −1

1 1
1 1
= ∫ 𝑥𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑑𝑥 = |𝑥 2 |1−1 + |𝑥|1−1
2 2
−1 −1

1 1
= (12 − (−1)2 ) + (1 − (−1)) = 1 − 1 + (2)
2 2
=1
 Practice Problems:
Evaluate the given double integrals.

Use double integral to find the volume.

Evaluating Double Integrals over Nonrectangular Region

The double integral of f over D,it can be defined by a limit similar to the one we
have done for numerical limits,

_______(7)

In the case when the region 𝑅 is a nonrectangular region, the limits of integration
in the inner integral are not constants and the double integral can be of two types:
𝑏 𝑔2 (𝑥) 𝑏 𝑔2 (𝑥)

∫ ∫ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ [ ∫ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑦] 𝑑𝑥

𝑎 𝑔1 (𝑥) 𝑎 𝑔1 (𝑥)

𝑑 ℎ2 (𝑦) 𝑑 ℎ2 (𝑦)

∫ ∫ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ [ ∫ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 ] 𝑑𝑦
𝑐 ℎ1 (𝑦) 𝑐 ℎ1 (𝑦)

Examples:
1. Find the volume of the prism whose base is the triangle in the 𝒙𝒚-plane
formed by the x-axis and the lines 𝒚 = 𝒙 & 𝒙 = 𝟏 and whose top lies in the
plane

𝒛 = 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝟑 − 𝒙 − 𝒚.

Solution: 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 = ∬𝑹 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚)𝒅𝑨

1 𝑥
= ∫0 ∫0 ( 3 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 𝑦 𝑦=𝑥

1 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

= ∫ (∫ 3𝑑𝑦 − 𝑥 ∫ 𝑑𝑦 − ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑦) 𝑑𝑥
0 0 0 0

𝑥
1 𝑦2
= ∫0 (|3𝑦|0𝑥 − 𝑥|𝑦|0𝑥 − | | ) 𝑑𝑥
2 0
𝑥
𝑥
1 𝑥2 02
= ∫0 ([3(𝑥) − 3(0)] − 𝑥(𝑥 − 0) − | − | ) 𝑑𝑥 𝑥=1
2 2 0

1 1
2
𝑥2 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2
= ∫ (3𝑥 − 𝑥 − ) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ (3𝑥 − [ ]) 𝑑𝑥
2 2
0 0

1 1 1
3𝑥 2 3
= ∫ (3𝑥 − ) 𝑑𝑥 = 3 ∫ 𝑥𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
2 2
0 0 0

1 1
𝑥2 3 𝑥3 3 3
= 3 | | − | | = (12 − 0) − (13 − 0)
2 0 2 3 0 2 6

3 1 2
= − = =1
2 2 2

2. Evaluate

∬(𝒙 + 𝒚) 𝒅𝑨
𝑹
where 𝑹 is the region enclosed by the parabola 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 , the line 𝒙 = 𝟐 and the
x-axis.

Solution:

∬(𝑥 + 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴
𝑅

2 𝑥2

= ∫ ∫ (𝑥 + 𝑦) 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0 0

2 𝑥2 𝑥2

= ∫ (∫ 𝑥𝑑𝑦 + ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑦) 𝑑𝑥
0 0 0

2 𝑥2
𝑥2
𝑦2
= ∫ (|𝑥𝑦|0 + | | ) 𝑑𝑥
2 0
0

2
𝑥4 3
= ∫ (𝑥 − ) 𝑑𝑥
2
0

2 2
𝑥4 1 𝑥5 4
=| | − | | =
4 0 2 5 0 5
Practice Questions:
Evaluate the double integrals.

Area of Bounded Regions in the Plane:

The area of closed bounded region 𝑅 is

𝐴 = ∬ 𝑑𝐴.
𝑅

Examples:

Use a double integral to find the area of the region R enclosed between the
𝟏
parabola 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 and the line 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙.
𝟐

Solution:
 𝟒 𝟐𝒙

𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 = ∬ 𝒅𝑨 = ∫ ∫ 𝒅𝒚𝒅𝒙
𝑹 𝟎 𝒙𝟐
𝟐

4 4
𝑥2
= ∫|𝑦|2𝑥
𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ (2𝑥 − ) 𝑑𝑥
2
2
0 0

4
𝑥32
16 16
= |𝑥 − | = 16 − =
3 0 3 3
Density of Thin Plate:
Definition: Suppose that we have a thin plate, so thin that it's practically 2-
dimensional. The density of this plate is defined as the mass per unit area.

So, 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 = 𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 × 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂

Examples:

A thin plate covers the triangular region bounded by 𝒙-axis & the lines
𝒙 = 𝟏 & 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 in the first quadrant.
The plate’s density at the point (𝒙, 𝒚) is 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝟔𝒙 + 𝟔𝒚 + 𝟔.
Find the plate’s mass.
Solution:
𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 = ∬ 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚)𝒅𝑨
𝑹
1 2𝑥 1 2𝑥 2𝑥 2𝑥

= ∫ ∫ (6𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 6)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 = ∫ (∫ 6𝑥𝑑𝑦 + ∫ 6𝑦𝑑𝑦 + ∫ 6𝑑𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 𝑦 = 2𝑥

0 0 0 0 0 0

1 1
= ∫0 |6𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑦 2 + 6𝑦|2𝑥 2 2
0 𝑑𝑥 = ∫0 (12𝑥 + 12𝑥 + 12𝑥)𝑑𝑥 𝑦

1 1 1

= ∫(24𝑥 2 + 12𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 24𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 12𝑥𝑑𝑥

0 0 0

1 1
𝑥3 𝑥2 13 03 12 02
= 24 | | + 12 | | = 24 ( − ) + 12 ( − )
3 2
0 3
0 3 2 2

24 12 𝑥
𝑥=1
= + = 8 + 6 = 14
3 2
2. Find the mass M of a metal plate R bounded by 𝒚 = 𝒙 & 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 with
density given by 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝟏 + 𝒙𝒚

𝟏 𝒙
Solution: 𝑴 = ∫𝟎 ∫𝒙𝟐 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚)𝒅𝒚𝒅𝒙
1 𝑥

𝑀 = ∫ ∫(1 + 𝑥𝑦)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
0 𝑥2

1 𝑥 𝑥 1 𝑥
𝑦2
= ∫ ( ∫ 1𝑑𝑦 + ∫ 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ [|𝑦|𝑥𝑥2 + 𝑥 | | ] 𝑑𝑥
2 𝑥2
0 𝑥2 𝑥2 0

1 1
2
𝑥2 𝑥4 2
𝑥3 𝑥5
= ∫ [(𝑥 − 𝑥 ) + 𝑥 ( − )] 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ [(𝑥 − 𝑥 ) + ( − )] 𝑑𝑥
2 2 2 2
0 0

1 1 1 1
𝑥2 𝑥3 1 𝑥4 1 𝑥6
=| | −| | + | | − | | 𝑦 = 𝑥2
2 0 3 0 2 4 0 2 6 0 𝑦 𝑦=𝑥
1 1 1 1
= − + −
2 3 8 12
5
=
24