460 CHAPTER 6 Applications of Integration

6.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

Some volume problems are very difficult to handle by the methods of the preceding
section. For instance, let’s consider the problem of finding the volume of the solid
obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by y − 2x 2 2 x 3 and y − 0.
(See Figure 1.) If we slice perpendicular to the y-axis, we get a washer. But to compute
the inner radius and the outer radius of the washer, we’d have to solve the cubic equation
y − 2x 2 2 x 3 for x in terms of y; that’s not easy.
y
y=2≈-˛
1
xL=? xR=?

0 2 x
FIGURE 1

■ The Method of Cylindrical Shells

r¡
Îr There is a method, called the method of cylindrical shells, that is easier to use in a case
r like the one shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows a cylindrical shell with inner radius r1,
r™
outer radius r2, and height h. Its volume V is calculated by subtracting the volume V1 of
the inner cylinder from the volume V2 of the outer cylinder:
h V − V2 2 V1
− !r22 h 2 !r12 h − !sr22 2 r12dh
− !sr2 1 r1 dsr2 2 r1 dh
r2 1 r1
− 2! hsr2 2 r1 d
FIGURE 2 2
If we let Dr − r2 2 r1 (the thickness of the shell) and r − 12 sr2 1 r1 d (the average radius
of the shell), then this formula for the volume of a cylindrical shell becomes

1 V − 2!rh Dr

and it can be remembered as

V − [circumference][height][thickness]
Now let S be the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by
y − f sxd [where f sxd > 0], y − 0, x − a, and x − b, where b . a > 0. (See Figure 3.)

y y
y=ƒ y=ƒ

0 a b x a b x

FIGURE 3

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 SECTION 6.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells 461

We divide the interval fa, bg into n subintervals fx i21, x i g of equal width Dx and let x i
be the midpoint of the ith subinterval. If the rectangle with base fx i21, x i g and height f sx i d
is rotated about the y-axis, then the result is a cylindrical shell with average radius x i,
height f sx i d, and thickness Dx. (See Figure 4.) So by Formula 1 its volume is
Vi − s2!x i df f sx i dg Dx

y y y
y=ƒ y=ƒ y=ƒ

a b x a b x a b x
xi
x i-1 x–i

FIGURE 4
Therefore an approximation to the volume V of S is given by the sum of the volumes of
these shells:
n n
V< o Vi − i−1
i−1
o 2!x i f sx i d Dx
This approximation appears to become better as n l `. But, from the definition of an
integral, we know that
n

o 2!x i f sx i d Dx − ya 2!x f sxd dx

b
lim
n l ` i−1

Thus the following formula appears plausible:

2 The volume of the solid in Figure 3, obtained by rotating about the y-axis the
region under the curve y − f sxd from a to b, is

V − y 2!x f sxd dx
b
where 0 < a , b
a

The argument using cylindrical shells makes Formula 2 seem reasonable, but later we
will be able to prove it (see Exercise 7.1.81).
The best way to remember Formula 2 is to think of a typical shell, cut and flattened as
in Figure 5, with radius x, circumference 2!x, height f sxd, and thickness Dx or dx :
V−y
b
s2!xd f f sxdg dx
a
circumference height thickness

ƒ ƒ
x

x x 2πx Îx

FIGURE 5

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462 CHAPTER 6 Applications of Integration

This type of reasoning will be helpful in other situations, such as when we rotate
regions about lines other than the y-axis.

EXAMPLE 1 Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the
region bounded by y − 2x 2 2 x 3 and y − 0.
y SOLUTION From the sketch in Figure 6 we see that a typical shell has radius x, circum-
ference 2!x, and height f sxd − 2x 2 2 x 3. So, by the shell method, the volume is

V − y s2!xd s2x 2 2 x 3 d dx
2

x 2≈-˛ 0
circumference height thickness
x 2 x
− 2! y s2x 3 2 x 4 d dx − 2! f 12 x g
2 2
4
2 15 x 5 0
0

FIGURE 6
− 2! (8 2 32
5 ) − 5 !
16

It can be verified that the shell method gives the same answer as slicing. n

Figure 7 shows a computer-generated

picture of the solid whose volume we
computed in Example 1.

FIGURE 7

NOTE Comparing the solution of Example 1 with the remarks at the beginning of this
section, we see that the method of cylindrical shells is much easier than the washer
method for this problem. We did not have to find the coordinates of the local maximum
and we did not have to solve the equation of the curve for x in terms of y. However, in
other examples the methods of the preceding section may be easier.

EXAMPLE 2 Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the
region between y − x and y − x 2.
y SOLUTION The region and a typical shell are shown in Figure 8. We see that the shell
y=x has radius x, circumference 2!x, and height x 2 x 2. So the volume is
y=≈
V − y s2!xdsx 2 x 2 d dx − 2! y sx 2 2 x 3 d dx
1 1
shell 0 0
height=x-≈

F G
1
0
x3 x4 !
x x − 2! 2 − n
3 4 0
6

FIGURE 8 As the following example shows, the shell method works just as well if we rotate a
region about the x-axis. We simply have to draw a diagram to identify the radius and
height of a shell.

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 SECTION 6.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells 463

EXAMPLE 3 Use cylindrical shells to find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating
about the x-axis the region under the curve y − sx from 0 to 1.
y
shell height=1-¥ SOLUTION This problem was solved using disks in Example 6.2.2. To use shells we
1 relabel the curve y − sx (in the figure in that example) as x − y 2 in Figure 9. For
¥ rotation about the x-axis we see that a typical shell has radius y, circumference 2!y,
y and height 1 2 y 2. So the volume is

V − y s2!yds1 2 y 2 d dy − 2! y sy 2 y 3 d dy
x=¥ x=1 1 1
shell
radius=y 0 0

0 1 x − 2! F y
2
2
2
y
4
4

G
1

0
−
!
2

FIGURE 9 In this problem the disk method was simpler. n

EXAMPLE 4 Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating the region bounded by
y − x 2 x 2 and y − 0 about the line x − 2.
SOLUTION Figure 10 shows the region and a cylindrical shell formed by rotation about
the line x − 2. It has radius 2 2 x, circumference 2!s2 2 xd, and height x 2 x 2.

y y

y=x-≈ x=2

0 x 0 x
1 1 2 3 4
x 2-x
FIGURE 10

The volume of the given solid is

V − y 2!s2 2 xdsx 2 x 2 d dx
1

− 2! y sx 3 2 3x 2 1 2xd dx
1

− 2! F x4
4
2 x3 1 x2 G 1

0
−
!
2
n

■ Disks and Washers versus Cylindrical Shells

When computing the volume of a solid of revolution, how do we know whether to use
disks (or washers) or cylindrical shells? There are several considerations to take into
account: Is the region more easily described by top and bottom boundary curves of the
form y − f sxd, or by left and right boundaries x − ts yd? Which choice is easier to work
with? Are the limits of integration easier to find for one variable versus the other? Does
the region require two separate integrals when using x as the variable but only one inte-
gral in y? Are we able to evaluate the integral we set up with our choice of variable?
If we decide that one variable is easier to work with than the other, then this dictates
which method to use. Draw a sample rectangle in the region, corresponding to a cross-
section of the solid. The thickness of the rectangle, either Dx or Dy, corresponds to the
integration variable. If you imagine the rectangle revolving, it becomes either a disk
(washer) or a shell. Sometimes either method works, as in the next example.

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Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
464 CHAPTER 6 Applications of Integration

x=_1 y EXAMPLE 5 Figure 11 shows the region in the first quadrant bounded by the curves
y − x 2 and y − 2x. A solid is formed by rotating the region about the line x − 21.
Find the volume of the solid using (a) x as the variable of integration and (b) y as the
y=2x variable of integration.
SOLUTION The solid is shown in Figure 12(a).
(a) To find the volume using x as the variable of integration, we draw the sample rect-
y=≈
1
angle vertically, as in Figure 12(b). Rotating the region about the line x − 21 produces
cylindrical shells, so the volume is

V − y 2!sx 1 1ds2x 2 x 2 d dx − 2! y sx 2 1 2x 2 x 3 d dx
2 2
_1 0 1 x
0 0

FIGURE 11
− 2!
x3
3
F
1 x2 2
x4
4
G 2

0
−
16!
3

(b) To find the volume using y as the variable of integration, we draw the sample rect-
angle horizontally as in Figure 12(c). Rotating the region about the line produces
washer-shaped cross-sections, so the volume is

V − y f! (sy 1 1) 2 2 ! ( 12 y 1 1) 2g dy − ! y (2sy 2 14 y 2) dy
4 4

0 0

16!
− ! f 43 y 3y2 2 12 y g0 −
1 3 4

x=_1 y x=_1 y x=_1 y

4 4 4
x= 21 y
y=2x y=2x y=≈

x=œ„y

y=≈
Îy
Îx

_1 0 2 x _1 0 2 x _1 0 2 x

(a) (b) (c)

FIGURE 12 n

6.3 Exercises
1. Let S be the solid obtained by rotating the region shown in the 2. Let S be the solid obtained by rotating the region shown in the
figure about the y-axis. Explain why it is awkward to use the figure about the y-axis. Sketch a typical cylindrical shell and
washer method to find the volume V of S. Sketch a typical find its circumference and height. Use shells to find the vol-
approximating shell. What are its circumference and height? ume of S. Is this method preferable to using washers?
Use shells to find V.
y
y y=sin{ ≈}
y=x(x-1)@

0 1 x 0 π
œ„ x

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Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.