Volumes

Calculating volumes using circular disks

Case One: Volumes by Circular Disks Perpendicular to the 𝑿- Axis
Let 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be a continuous function defined on the interval [𝒂, 𝒃] and 𝒇(𝒙) ≥ 𝟎
for all 𝒙 ∈ [𝒂, 𝒃]. If 𝑹 is the region that is enclosed from above by 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙), from below
by the 𝑿-axis and from left and right hand sides by the lines 𝒙 = 𝒂 and 𝒙 = 𝒃, then the
volume of the solid of revolution that is generated by revolving the region 𝑹 about the
𝑿 −axis is given by:
𝒃 𝒃
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝝅 𝒚𝟐 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 𝝅 (𝒇(𝒙))𝟐 𝒅𝒙

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑅
𝑦

𝑥=𝑎 𝑑𝑥 𝑥=𝑏

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

∆𝑥

𝑥=𝑎 𝑥=𝑏

Note: 𝑉𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑘 =Volume of circular disk= 𝝅 𝒚𝟐 ∆𝒙 = 𝝅 (𝒇(𝒙))𝟐 ∆𝒙.

Case Two: Volumes by Disks Perpendicular to the 𝒀- Axis
Let 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚) be a continuous function defined on the interval
and 𝒇(𝒚) ≥ 𝟎 for all𝒚 ∈ [𝒄, 𝒅]. If 𝑹 is the region that is enclosed from right hand side
by 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙), from left hand side by the 𝒀-axis and from below and above by the lines
𝒚 = 𝒄 and 𝒚 = 𝒅, then the volume of the solid of revolution that is generated by revolving
the region 𝑹 about the 𝒀 −axis is given by:
𝒅 𝒅
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝝅 𝒙𝟐 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝒄 𝝅 (𝒇(𝒚))𝟐 𝒅𝒚

𝑦=𝑑

𝑥
𝑑𝑦

𝑅
𝑦=𝑐
𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑦)

Examples
(1) Find the volume of the solid of revolution obtained by revolving the region
enclosed by the curve 𝒚 = √𝒙, the 𝑿-axis and the line 𝒙 = 𝟒 about the 𝑿-axis.
Sol.

𝑦 = √𝑥

𝑑𝑥 𝑥=4
 𝟒 𝟒 𝟐 𝟒 𝝅
𝑽 = ∫𝟎 𝝅 𝒚𝟐 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝟎 𝝅 (√𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 = 𝝅 ∫𝟎 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 ]𝟒𝟎 = 𝟖𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟐

(2) Find the volume of the solid of revolution obtained by revolving the region enclosed
by the curve 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 , the 𝒀-axis and the line 𝒚 = 𝟖 about the 𝒀-axis.

Sol.
𝑦=8
(2,8)

𝑦 = 𝑥3

𝑑𝑦
𝑥

𝟏 𝟐 𝟐 𝟓
𝒅 𝟖 𝟖 𝟑𝝅 𝟗𝟔
𝑽= ∫𝒄 𝝅 𝟐
𝒙 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝟎 𝝅 (𝒚 ) 𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅 ∫𝟎 𝒚𝟑 𝒅𝒚 =
𝟑 𝒚𝟑 ] 𝟖𝟎 = 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑 .
𝟓 𝟓

Calculating volumes using Washers

Notes: (1) As we seen previously, calculating volume using circular disk method can be
obtained by revolving the area under a curve as well as by making the slice inside this
region perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
(2) In what follow, we shall generalized the circular disk method to calculate the volume
of a solid that is generated by revolving the area enclosed between two curves as well as
by making the slice inside this region perpendicular to the axis of rotation. This method
is called “Washer Method”.
(3) The solid that is generated by revolving the region enclosed between two curves using
washer method have a “hole”.
Case One: Volumes by Washers Perpendicular to the 𝑿- Axis
Let 𝒚𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒈(𝒙) be two continuous functions defined on the
interval [𝒂, 𝒃] and 𝒈(𝒙) ≥ 𝒇(𝒙) for all 𝒙 ∈ [𝒂, 𝒃]. If 𝑹 is the region that is enclosed from
above by 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒈(𝒙), from below by
𝒚𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒙) and from left and right hand sides by the lines 𝒙 = 𝒂 and
𝒙 = 𝒃 respectively, then the volume of the solid of revolution that is generated by
revolving the region 𝑅 about the 𝑿 −axis is given by:
𝒃 𝒃
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝝅 [𝒚𝟐 𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 𝝅 [(𝒈(𝒙))𝟐 − (𝒇(𝒙))𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙

𝑦2 = 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑦2
𝑦2 − 𝑦1

𝑅
𝑦1 = 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑦1
𝑥=𝑎 𝑑𝑥 𝑥=𝑏

𝑦2

𝑦1 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑊𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑟

A hole

∆𝑥
𝑽𝒐𝒍𝑾𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓 = 𝝅𝒚𝟐 𝟐 ∆𝒙 − 𝝅𝒚𝟏 𝟐 ∆𝒙 = 𝝅(𝒚𝟐 𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝟐 )∆𝒙
Case Two: Volumes by Washers Perpendicular to the 𝒀- Axis
Let 𝒙𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒚) and 𝒙𝟐 = 𝒈(𝒚) be two continuous functions defined on the
interval [𝒄, 𝒅] and 𝒈(𝒚) ≥ 𝒇(𝒚) for all 𝒚 ∈ [𝒄, 𝒅]. If 𝑹 is the region that is enclosed from
right hand side by 𝒙𝟐 = 𝒈(𝒚), from left hand side by 𝒙𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒚) and from below and
above by the lines 𝒚 = 𝒄 and
𝒚 = 𝒅 respectively, then the volume of the solid of revolution that is generated
by revolving the region 𝑹 about the 𝒀 −axis is given by:
𝒅 𝒅
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝝅 [𝒙𝟐 𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝒄 𝝅 [(𝒈(𝒚))𝟐 − (𝒇(𝒚))𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒚

𝑦=𝑑

𝑥1 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
𝑑𝑦
𝑅
𝑥2

𝑦=𝑐

𝑥1 = 𝑓(𝑦) 𝑥2 = 𝑔(𝑦)

𝑥2 𝑥1

∆𝑦
A hole 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑊𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑟

𝑽𝒐𝒍𝑾𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓 = 𝝅𝒙𝟐 𝟐 ∆𝒚 − 𝝅𝒙𝟏 𝟐 ∆𝒚 = 𝝅(𝒙𝟐 𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝟐 )∆𝒚

Example
(1) Find the volume of the solid that is generated by rotating the region bounded by the
curve 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐 and the line 𝒚 = 𝒙 + 𝟒 about the 𝑿-axis.
Sol . First we find the points of intercepts.
𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐--------(1)
𝒚 = 𝒙 + 𝟒 ---------(2)
𝑥 = 0 (Y-axis) -------(3)
Substitute (2) in (1), 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝒙 + 𝟒 → 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟐 = 𝟎
→ (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟏) = 𝟎 → 𝒙 = 𝟐 → 𝒚 = 𝟔 → (𝟐, 𝟔)
Or → 𝒙 = −𝟏 → 𝒚 = 𝟑 → (−𝟏, 𝟑)
Substitute (3) in (1), 𝒙 = 𝟎 → 𝒚 = 𝟐 → (𝟎, 𝟐)

𝑦 =𝑥+4
2
𝑦 =𝑥 +2

𝑦2 − 𝑦1

𝑑𝑥

𝒃 𝟐
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝝅 [𝒚𝟐 𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙 = ∫−𝟏 𝝅 [(𝒙 + 𝟒)𝟐 − (𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐)𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙
𝟐
= ∫−𝟏 𝝅 [𝒙𝟐 + 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟏𝟔 − 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒] 𝒅𝒙
𝟐
= ∫−𝟏 𝝅 [−𝒙𝟒 − 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐] 𝒅𝒙
𝟐
𝒙𝟓
= 𝝅 [− − 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐𝒙]
𝟓 −𝟏
𝟑𝟐 𝟏
= 𝝅 [(− − 𝟖 + 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟐𝟒) − ( + 𝟏 + 𝟒 − 𝟏𝟐)]
𝟓 𝟓
𝟑𝟑 𝟑𝟑 𝟏𝟗𝟓 𝟏𝟔𝟐
= 𝝅 [− + 𝟑𝟗] = 𝝅 [− + ]= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑 .
𝟓 𝟓 𝟓 𝟓

Example
Find the volume of the solid of revolution generated by revolving the region bounded
by 𝒚 = 𝒆−𝒙 , 𝒚 = 𝟎 (the 𝒀-axis), 𝒙 = 𝟎 (the 𝑿-axis) and 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒏𝟒 about the 𝒀-axis.
Sol.

𝑦 = 𝑒 −𝑥
𝑥 1
𝑑𝑦 (𝑙𝑛4, )
4
𝑑𝑦 𝑥

𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛4

Intercepts points:
𝒚 = 𝒆−𝒙 --------(1)
𝒙 = 𝒍𝒏𝟒 --------(2)
𝒙 = 𝟎 -----------(3)
𝟏 𝟏
Substitute (2) in (1), 𝒚 = → (𝒍𝒏𝟒, ).
𝟒 𝟒

Substitute (3) in (1), 𝒚 = 𝟏 → (𝟎, 𝟏).

𝑽 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐
𝒅 𝟏 𝟏
𝑽𝟏 = ∫𝒄 𝝅 𝒙𝟐 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝟏 𝝅 (−𝒍𝒏𝒚)𝟐 𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅 ∫𝟏 𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝒚 𝒅𝒚 (by parts)
𝟒 𝟒

𝟏
𝒖 = 𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝒚 → 𝒅𝒖 = 𝟐 𝒍𝒏𝒚
𝒚

𝒅𝒗 = 𝒅𝒚 → 𝒗 = 𝒚
𝟏 𝟏
𝑽𝟏 = 𝝅 ∫𝟏 𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝒚 𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅 {𝒚𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝒚]𝟏𝟏 − 𝟐 ∫𝟏 𝒍𝒏𝒚 𝒅𝒚}
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒

𝟏
= 𝝅𝒚𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝒚]𝟏𝟏 − 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟏 𝒍𝒏𝒚 𝒅𝒚 (by parts)
𝟒 𝟒

𝟏
𝒖 = 𝒍𝒏𝒚 → 𝒅𝒖 = 𝒅𝒚
𝒚

𝒅𝒗 = 𝒅𝒚 → 𝒗 = 𝒚
 𝟏 𝟏
𝑽𝟏 = 𝝅𝒚𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝒚]𝟏𝟏 − 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟏 𝒍𝒏𝒚 𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅𝒚𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝒚]𝟏𝟏 − 𝟐𝝅{𝒚𝒍𝒏𝒚]𝟏𝟏 − ∫𝟏 𝒅𝒚}
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒

𝝅 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝝅
= 𝟎 − 𝒍𝒏𝟐 − 𝟐𝝅 {𝟎 − 𝒍𝒏 − 𝒚]𝟏𝟏 } = −𝝅𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝟐 − 𝝅𝒍𝒏𝟐 + 𝟑
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟐
𝟒

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝒅 𝟐
𝑽𝟐 = ∫𝒄 𝝅 𝒙 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝟎 𝝅
𝟒 (𝒍𝒏𝟒)𝟐 𝟐
𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅(𝒍𝒏𝟒) ∫𝟎 𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅(𝒍𝒏𝟒) [𝒚]𝟎
𝟒 𝟐 𝟒

𝝅
= (𝒍𝒏𝟒)𝟐 = 𝝅𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝟐.
𝟒
𝝅 𝝅
𝑽 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 == −𝝅𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝟐 − 𝝅𝒍𝒏𝟐 + 𝟑 + 𝝅𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝟐 = 𝟑 − 𝝅𝒍𝒏𝟐 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑 .
𝟐 𝟐

Example
Find the volume of the solid of revolution obtained by revolving the region enclosed by
𝒚 = 𝟐√𝒙 and 𝒚 = 𝒙 around each of the following axes of rotations.
(i) The X- axis (ii) The line 𝒚 = −𝟏 (iii) The line 𝒚 = 𝟒
(iv) The Y-axis (v) The line 𝒙 = −𝟏 (vi) The line 𝒙 = 𝟒.
Sol.(i) first, we find the points of intercepts.
𝒚 = 𝟐√𝒙 ----------(1) and 𝒚 = 𝒙 ------------(2)
Substitute (2) in (1), we have 𝟐√𝒙 = 𝒙 → 𝟒𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 → 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 = 𝟎
→ 𝒙(𝒙 − 𝟒) = 𝟎. Either 𝒙 = 𝟎 → 𝒚 = 𝟎 → (𝟎, 𝟎) or 𝒙 = 𝟒 → 𝒚 = 𝟒 → (𝟒, 𝟒)

(4,4)
𝑦 = 2√𝑥

𝑦=𝑥
𝑦2 − 𝑦1

𝑑𝑥

𝒃 𝟒 𝟐 𝟒
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝝅 [𝒚𝟐 𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙 = 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [(𝟐√𝒙) − 𝒙𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙 = 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝟒𝒙 − 𝒙𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙
 𝟒
𝒙𝟑 𝟔𝟒 𝟑𝟐
= 𝝅 [𝟐𝒙𝟐 − ] = 𝝅 [𝟑𝟐 − ]= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟑 𝟎 𝟑 𝟑

Sol.(ii)

(4,4)

𝑦 = 2√𝑥
𝑦=𝑥

𝑦2 + 1 𝑦2

𝑦1

𝑦1 + 1
𝑦 = −1

𝒃
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝝅 [(𝒚𝟐 + 𝟏)𝟐 − (𝒚𝟏 + 𝟏)𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙
𝟒 𝟐
= 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [(𝟐√𝒙 + 𝟏 ) − (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙
𝟒
= 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝟒𝒙 + 𝟒√𝒙 + 𝟏 − 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏] 𝒅𝒙
𝟒 𝟖 𝒙𝟑
= 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒√𝒙 − 𝒙𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙 = 𝝅[𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙√𝒙 − ]𝟒𝟎
𝟑 𝟑

𝟔𝟒 𝟔𝟒
= 𝝅 [𝟏𝟔 + − ] = 𝟏𝟔𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟑 𝟑
Sol.(iii)

𝑦=4 (4,4)

4 − 𝑦1
4 − 𝑦2 𝑦=𝑥

𝑦1
𝑦2

𝑑𝑥
 𝟒 𝒃 𝟐
𝑽 = ∫𝟎 𝝅 [(𝟒 − 𝒚𝟐 )𝟐 − (𝟒 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 𝝅 [(𝟒 − 𝒙)𝟐 − (𝟒 − 𝟐√𝒙) ] 𝒅𝒙
𝟒
= ∫𝟎 𝝅 [𝟏𝟔 − 𝟖𝒙 + 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟏𝟔√𝒙 − 𝟒𝒙] 𝒅𝒙
𝟒
= ∫𝟎 𝝅 [−𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔√𝒙] 𝒅𝒙
𝟒
𝒙𝟑 𝟑𝟐 𝟔𝟒 𝟐𝟓𝟔 𝟑𝟐
= 𝝅 [−𝟔𝒙𝟐 + + 𝒙√𝒙] = 𝝅 [−𝟗𝟔 + + ]= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟑 𝟑 𝟎 𝟑 𝟑 𝟑

Sol.( (iv)

(4,4)

𝑦 = 2√𝑥
𝑦=𝑥
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏
𝑑𝑦

𝟐
𝒅 𝟐 𝟐] 𝟒 𝒚𝟐 𝟒 𝒚𝟒
𝑽= ∫𝒄 𝝅 [𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝟎 𝝅 [𝒚 − ( 𝟒 ) ] 𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝒚𝟐 − 𝟏𝟔] 𝒅𝒚
𝟐

𝟒
𝒚𝟑 𝒚𝟓 𝟔𝟒 𝟔𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟖
= 𝝅[ − ] = 𝝅[ − ]= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟑 𝟖𝟎 𝟎 𝟑 𝟓 𝟏𝟓
Sol. (v)

𝑦 = 2√𝑥
𝑥2 +1 (4,4)
𝑑𝑦
=1
𝑥2
=
𝑥1 1
𝑦=𝑥
=
𝑥1 +1
𝑑𝑦 1
=1

𝑥 = −1

𝟐
𝒅 𝟒 𝒚𝟐
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝝅 [(𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏)𝟐 − (𝒙𝟏 + 𝟏)𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝟎 𝝅 [(𝒚 + 𝟏)𝟐 − ( + 𝟏) ] 𝒅𝒚
𝟒

𝟒 𝒚𝟒 𝒚𝟐 𝟒 𝒚𝟐 𝒚𝟒
= 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝒚𝟐 + 𝟐𝒚 + 𝟏 − − − 𝟏] 𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [ + 𝟐𝒚 − ] 𝒅𝒚
𝟏𝟔 𝟐 𝟐 𝟏𝟔
𝟒
𝒚𝟑 𝟐 𝒚𝟓 𝟔𝟒 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝟐𝟎𝟖
= 𝝅[ +𝒚 − ] = 𝝅[ + 𝟏𝟔 − ]= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟔 𝟖𝟎 𝟎 𝟔 𝟖𝟎 𝟏𝟓
Sol. (vi)

𝑦 = 2 √𝑥 (4,4)

𝑑𝑦
𝑥1 4 − 𝑥1
= =1
1 4 − 𝑥2 =
𝑥2
𝑑𝑦
1
= =1
1
𝑦=𝑥

𝑥=4

𝒅
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝝅 [(𝟒 − 𝒙𝟐 )𝟐 − (𝟒 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒚
𝟐
𝒅 𝒚𝟐
= ∫𝒄 𝝅 [(𝟒 − 𝟒
) − (𝟒 − 𝒚)𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒚

𝟒 𝒚𝟒
= 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝟏𝟔 − 𝟐𝒚𝟐 + − 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟖𝒚 − 𝒚𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒚
𝟏𝟔
𝟒
𝟒 𝒚𝟒 𝒚𝟓
= 𝝅 ∫𝟎 [−𝟑𝒚𝟐 + + 𝟖𝒚] 𝒅𝒚 = 𝝅 [−𝒚𝟑 + + 𝟒𝒚𝟐 ]
𝟏𝟔 𝟖𝟎 𝟎
𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝟔𝟒
= 𝝅 [−𝟔𝟒 + + 𝟔𝟒] = 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟖𝟎 𝟓

Calculating volumes using Cylindrical Sells (Revolving Area under a Curve)

Case One: Volumes by Cylindrical Shells Parallel to the Y-Axis:
Let 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be a continuous function defined on the interval [𝒂, 𝒃] and 𝒇(𝒙) ≥ 𝟎 for
all 𝒙 ∈ [𝒂, 𝒃]. If 𝑹 is the region that is enclosed from above by 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙), from below by
the 𝑿-axis and from left and right hand sides by the lines 𝒙 = 𝒂 and 𝒙 = 𝒃, then the
volume of the solid of revolution that is generated by revolving the region 𝑹 about the
𝑌 −axis is given by:
𝒃 𝒃
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝟐𝝅 𝒙𝒚 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 𝟐𝝅 𝒙 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙
 𝑥

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑦
𝑅

𝑥1 𝑥2
𝑥=𝑎 𝑑𝑥 𝑥=𝑏
𝑑𝑥
𝑥2
∆𝑥 𝑥1

Cylindrical Shell

𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 = 𝝅𝒙𝟐 𝟐 𝒚 − 𝝅𝒙𝟏 𝟐 𝒚 = 𝝅(𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙𝟏 )(𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 )𝒚

𝒙𝟐 +𝒙𝟏 𝒙𝟐 +𝒙𝟏
= 𝟐𝝅 ( ) ∆𝒙 𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 𝒙 𝒚 ∆𝒙, where = 𝒙.
𝟐 𝟐

Case Two: Volumes by Cylindrical Shells Parallel to the X-Axis:

Let 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚) be a continuous function defined on the interval [𝒄, 𝒅] and 𝒇(𝒚) ≥ 𝟎 for all
𝒚 ∈ [𝒄, 𝒅]. If 𝑅 is the region that is enclosed from right hand side by 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚), from left
hand side by the 𝒀-axis and from below and above by the lines 𝒚 = 𝒄 and 𝒚 = 𝒅, then
the volume of the solid of revolution that is generated by revolving the region 𝑹 about
the 𝑿 −axis is given by:
𝒅 𝒅
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝟐𝝅 𝒙𝒚 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝒄 𝟐𝝅 𝒚 𝒇(𝒚) 𝒅𝒚
 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑦=𝑑

𝑦2 𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑦
1

𝑅 𝑦
𝑦=𝑐

𝑥
∆𝑦

𝑦1 𝑦2 𝑦1 𝑦2

Cylindrical Shell

𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 = 𝝅𝒚𝟐 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝝅𝒚𝟏 𝟐 𝒙 = 𝝅(𝒚𝟐 + 𝒚𝟏 )(𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝒙

𝒚𝟐 +𝒚𝟏
= 𝟐𝝅 ( ) ∆𝒚 𝒙
𝟐
𝒚𝟐 +𝒚𝟏
= 𝟐𝝅 𝒙 𝒚 ∆𝒚, where = 𝒚.
𝟐
 Example
Find the volume of the solid of revolution generated by revolving the region bounded
by 𝒚 = 𝒆−𝒙 , 𝒚 = 𝟎 (the 𝒀-axis), 𝒙 = 𝟎 (the 𝑿-axis) and 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒏𝟒 about the 𝒀-axis using
cylindrical shell.

(0,1)

𝑦 = 𝑒 −𝑥

𝑥
1
(𝑙𝑛4, )
𝑦 4

𝑑𝑥 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛4

Intercepts points:
𝒚 = 𝒆−𝒙 --------(1)
𝒙 = 𝒍𝒏𝟒 --------(2)
𝒙 = 𝟎 -----------(3)
𝟏 𝟏
Substitute (2) in (1), 𝒚 = → (𝒍𝒏𝟒, ).
𝟒 𝟒

Substitute (3) in (1), 𝒚 = 𝟏 → (𝟎, 𝟏).

𝒍𝒏𝟒 𝒍𝒏𝟒
𝑽 = ∫𝟎 𝟐𝝅 𝒙𝒚 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 𝒙 𝒆−𝒙 𝒅𝒙 (by parts)

𝒖= 𝒙 → 𝒅𝒖 = 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒗 = 𝒆−𝒙 𝒅𝒙 → 𝒗 = −𝒆−𝒙
𝒍𝒏𝟒 𝒍𝒏𝟒

𝑽 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫ 𝒙 𝒆−𝒙 𝒅𝒙 = −𝟐𝝅𝒙𝒆−𝒙 ]𝒍𝒏𝟒

𝟎 − 𝟐𝝅 ∫ − 𝒆
−𝒙
𝒅𝒙
𝟎 𝟎
𝒍𝒏𝟒 𝟏 𝟑
= −𝟐𝝅. − 𝟐𝝅𝒆−𝒙 ]𝒍𝒏𝟒 𝟑
𝟎 = −𝝅. 𝒍𝒏𝟐 − 𝟐𝝅 [ − 𝟏] = −𝝅. 𝒍𝒏𝟐 + 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕 .
𝟒 𝟒 𝟐

Calculating volumes using Cylindrical Sells. Revolving Area between two Curves
Case One: Voumes by Cylindrical Shells Parallel to the Y-Axis:
Let 𝒚𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒙) and 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒈(𝒙) be two continuous functions defined on the interval [𝒂, 𝒃]
and 𝒈(𝒙) ≥ 𝒇(𝒙) for all 𝒙 ∈ [𝒂, 𝒃]. If 𝑹 is the region that is enclosed from above by
𝒚𝟐 = 𝒈(𝒙), from below by 𝒚𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒙) and from left and right hand sides by the
lines 𝒙 = 𝒂 and 𝒙 = 𝒃 respectively, then the volume of the solid of revolution that is
generated by revolving the region 𝑹 about the 𝒀 −axis is given by:
𝒃 𝒃
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝟐𝝅𝒙[𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 ]𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 𝟐𝝅 𝒙[𝒈(𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙)] 𝒅𝒙

𝑦2 = 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑦2
𝑦2 − 𝑦1

𝑅 𝑦1 = 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑦1

𝑥=𝑎 𝑑𝑥 𝑥=𝑏

Case Two: Volumes by Cylindrical Shells Parallel to the X-Axis:

Let 𝒙𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒚) and 𝒙𝟐 = 𝒈(𝒚) be two continuous functions defined on the
interval [𝒄, 𝒅] and 𝒈(𝒚) ≥ 𝒇(𝒚) for all 𝒚 ∈ [𝒄, 𝒅]. If 𝑅 is the region that is enclosed from
right hand side by 𝒙𝟐 = 𝒈(𝒚), from left hand side by 𝒙𝟏 = 𝒇(𝒚) and from below and
above by the lines 𝒚 = 𝒄 and
𝒚 = 𝒅 respectively, then the volume of the solid of revolution that is generated by
revolving the region 𝑹 about the 𝑿 −axis is given by:
𝒅 𝒅
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝟐𝝅 𝒚[𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 ] 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝒄 𝟐𝝅𝒚 [𝒈(𝒚) − 𝒇(𝒚)] 𝒅𝒚
 𝑦=𝑑
𝑥1 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
𝑑𝑦
𝑅 𝑥2
𝑦
𝑦=𝑐
𝑥1 = 𝑓(𝑦) 𝑥2 = 𝑔(𝑦)

Example
(1) Find the volume of the solid that is generated by rotating the region bounded by the
curve 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐 and the line 𝒚 = 𝒙 + 𝟒 about the 𝑿-axis, using cylindrical shell.
Sol . First we find the points of intercepts.
𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐--------(1)
𝒚 = 𝒙 + 𝟒 ---------(2)
𝒙 = 𝟎 --------------(3)
Substitute (2) in (1), 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝒙 + 𝟒 → 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟐 = 𝟎
→ (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 + 𝟏) = 𝟎
→ 𝒙 = 𝟐 → 𝒚 = 𝟔 → (𝟐, 𝟔)
Or → 𝒙 = −𝟏 → 𝒚 = 𝟑 → (−𝟏, 𝟑)
Substitute (3) in (1), 𝒙 = 𝟎 → 𝒚 = 𝟐 → (𝟎, 𝟐)
 𝑦 =𝑥+4 (2,6)

𝑦 = 𝑥2 + 2
𝑥2 − 𝑥1

(−1,3)
𝑥2 − 𝑥1

𝑦
𝑦

𝑽 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐
𝟑 𝟑

𝑽𝟏 = ∫ 𝟐𝝅 (𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 ) 𝒚 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫ (√𝒚 − 𝟐 − (−√𝒚 − 𝟐)) 𝒚 𝒅𝒚

𝟐 𝟐
𝟑 𝟐 𝟒
= 𝟒𝝅 ∫𝟐 𝒚 √𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟒𝝅 { (𝒚 − 𝟐)𝟐 √𝒚 − 𝟐]𝟑𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝟐)√𝒚 − 𝟐]𝟑𝟐 }
𝟓 𝟑
𝟐 𝟒 𝟏𝟎𝟒
= 𝟒𝝅 { + } = 𝝅
𝟓 𝟑 𝟏𝟓
𝟔 𝟔
𝑽𝟐 = ∫𝟑 𝟐𝝅 (𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 ) 𝒚 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟑 (√𝒚 − 𝟐 − (𝒚 − 𝟒)) 𝒚 𝒅𝒚
𝟔 𝟔 𝟐
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟑 (𝒚√𝒚 − 𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟒𝒚) 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟑 𝒚√𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒅𝒚 − 𝝅𝒚𝟑 ]𝟔𝟑 + 𝟒𝝅𝒚𝟐 ]𝟔𝟑
𝟑
𝟔 𝟐
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟑 𝒚√𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒅𝒚 − 𝝅[𝟐𝟏𝟔 − 𝟐𝟕] + 𝟒𝝅[𝟑𝟔 − 𝟗]
𝟑
𝟔
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟑 𝒚√𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒅𝒚 − 𝟏𝟐𝟔 𝝅 + 𝟏𝟎𝟖𝝅
𝟔
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟑 𝒚√𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒅𝒚 − 𝟏𝟖 𝝅
𝟔
Now, we calculate ∫𝟑 𝒚√𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒅𝒚

Suppose 𝒚 − 𝟐 = 𝒖 → 𝒅𝒚 = 𝒅𝒖
 𝟏 𝟑 𝟏 𝟓 𝟑
𝟔 𝟐 𝟒
∫𝟑 𝒚√𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒅𝒚 = ∫(𝒖 + 𝟐)𝒖𝟐 𝒅𝒖 = ∫ (𝒖𝟐 + 𝟐𝒖𝟐 ) 𝒅𝒖 = 𝒖𝟐 + 𝒖𝟐
𝟓 𝟑
𝟐 𝟒
= 𝒖𝟐 √𝒖 + 𝒖√𝒖
𝟓 𝟑
𝟐 𝟒
= (𝒚 − 𝟐)𝟐 √𝒚 − 𝟐]𝟔𝟑 + (𝒚 − 𝟐)√𝒚 − 𝟐]𝟔𝟑
𝟓 𝟑
𝟔𝟒 𝟐 𝟑𝟐 𝟒 𝟔𝟐 𝟐𝟖 𝟑𝟐𝟔
= − + − = + = -------- (# #)
𝟓 𝟓 𝟑 𝟑 𝟓 𝟑 𝟏𝟓

Substitute (# #) in (#), we have:

𝟔𝟓𝟐 𝟑𝟖𝟐
𝑽𝟐 = 𝝅 − 𝟏𝟖 𝝅 = 𝝅.
𝟏𝟓 𝟏𝟓
𝟏𝟎𝟒 𝟑𝟖𝟐 𝟏𝟔𝟐
𝑽 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 = 𝝅+ 𝝅= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑 .
𝟏𝟓 𝟏𝟓 𝟓

Example
Find the volume of the solid of revolution obtained by rotating the region enclosed by
𝑦 = 2√𝑥 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 around each of the following axes of rotations using cylindrical
shell.
(i) The X- axis (ii) The line 𝒚 = −𝟏 (iii) The line 𝒚 = 𝟒
(iv) The Y-axis (v) The line 𝒙 = −𝟏 (vi) The line 𝒙 = 𝟒.
Sol.(i) first, we find the points of intercepts.
𝒚 = 𝟐√𝒙 ----------(1)
𝒚 = 𝒙 ------------(2)
Substitute (2) in (1), we have 𝟐√𝒙 = 𝒙 → 𝟒𝒙 = 𝒙𝟐 → 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙 = 𝟎
→ 𝒙(𝒙 − 𝟒) = 𝟎
Either 𝒙 = 𝟎 → 𝒚 = 𝟎 → (𝟎, 𝟎)
Or 𝒙 = 𝟒 → 𝒚 = 𝟒 → (𝟒, 𝟒)
 (4,4)
𝑦 = 2√𝑥
𝑦=𝑥

𝑥2 − 𝑥1

𝒅 𝟒 𝒚𝟐 𝟒 𝒚𝟑
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝟐𝝅 [𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 ]𝒚 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝒚 − ] 𝒚 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝒚𝟐 − ] 𝒅𝒚
𝟒 𝟒
𝟒
𝒚𝟑 𝒚𝟒 𝟔𝟒 𝟑𝟐
= 𝟐𝝅 [ − ] = 𝟐𝝅 [ − 𝟏𝟔] = 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑 .
𝟑 𝟏𝟔 𝟎 𝟑 𝟑

Sol.(ii)

(4,4)
𝑦 = 2√𝑥

𝑦=𝑥
𝑥2 − 𝑥1

𝑦+1 𝑦

𝑦 = −1

𝒅 𝟒 𝒚𝟐
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝟐𝝅 [𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 ](𝒚 + 𝟏) 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝒚 − ] (𝒚 + 𝟏) 𝒅𝒚
𝟒

𝟒 𝒚𝟑 𝒚𝟐 𝟒 𝟑 𝒚𝟑
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝒚𝟐 + 𝒚 − − ] 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [ 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒚 − ] 𝒅𝒚
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒
𝟒
𝟏 𝟏 𝒚𝟒
= 𝟐𝝅 [ 𝒚𝟑 + 𝒚𝟐 − ] = 𝟐𝝅[𝟏𝟔 + 𝟖 − 𝟏𝟔] = 𝟏𝟔𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟒 𝟐 𝟏𝟔 𝟎
Sol.(iii)

(4,4)
𝑦=4

4−𝑦 𝑦=𝑥

𝑥2 − 𝑥1

𝒅 𝟒 𝒚𝟐
𝑽 = ∫𝒄 𝟐𝝅 [𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏 ](𝟒 − 𝒚 )𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝒚 − ] (𝟒 − 𝒚 ) 𝒅𝒚
𝟒

𝟒 𝒚𝟑 𝟐 𝒚𝟒 𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟖
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝟒𝒚 − 𝟐𝒚𝟐 + ] 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅[𝟐𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟑 + ] = 𝟐𝝅[𝟑𝟐 − + 𝟏𝟔]
𝟒 𝟑 𝟏𝟔 𝟎 𝟑
𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟏𝟒𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟑𝟐
= 𝟐𝝅 [𝟒𝟖 − ] = 𝟐𝝅 [ − ]= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑 .
𝟑 𝟑 𝟑 𝟑

Sol.( (iv)

(4,4)

𝑦 = 2√𝑥
𝑦=𝑥
𝑥
𝑦2 − 𝑦1

𝒃 𝟒
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝟐𝝅 𝒙[𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 ] 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 𝒙 [𝟐√𝒙 − 𝒙] 𝒅𝒙
𝟑 𝟓 𝟒
𝟒 𝟒 𝟏 𝟒 𝟏
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝝅 [ 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟑 ] = 𝟐𝝅[ 𝒙𝟐 √𝒙 − 𝒙𝟑 ]𝟒𝟎
𝟓 𝟑 𝟓 𝟑
𝟎
𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟔𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟖
= 𝟐𝝅 [ − ]= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑 .
𝟓 𝟑 𝟏𝟓
 𝟒
𝒚𝟑 𝒚𝟓 𝟔𝟒 𝟔𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟖
= 𝝅[ − ] = 𝝅[ − ]= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑
𝟑 𝟖𝟎 𝟎 𝟑 𝟓 𝟏𝟓

Sol.(v)

𝑦 = 2√𝑥 (4,4)
𝑥+1
𝑥 𝑦=𝑥
=
1 = 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
1

𝑥 = −1
𝒃 𝟒
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝟐𝝅 (𝒙 + 𝟏) (𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 )𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 (𝒙 + 𝟏) [𝟐√𝒙 − 𝒙] 𝒅𝒙
𝟑 𝟏 𝟓 𝟑 𝟒
𝟒 𝟐 𝟒 𝟏 𝟑 𝟒 𝟏 𝟐
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝟐𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝒙] 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝝅 [ 𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒙 − 𝒙 ]
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟓 𝟑 𝟑 𝟐
𝟎

𝟒 𝟏 𝟒 𝟏 𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟑𝟐 𝟐𝟎𝟖
= 𝟐𝝅 [ 𝒙𝟐 √𝒙 − 𝒙𝟑 + 𝒙√𝒙 − 𝒙𝟐 ] = 𝟐𝝅 [ − − 𝟖] = 𝝅
𝟓 𝟑 𝟑 𝟐 𝟎 𝟓 𝟑 𝟏𝟓

Sol. (vi)

𝑦 = 2 √𝑥 (4,4)

𝑥 4−𝑥
𝑦2 − 𝑦1
=1

𝑦=𝑥
 𝒃 𝟒
𝑽 = ∫𝒂 𝟐𝝅(𝟒 − 𝒙) [𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 ] 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 (𝟒 − 𝒙) [𝟐√𝒙 − 𝒙] 𝒅𝒙
𝟒
= 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 [𝟖√𝒙 − 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙√𝒙 + 𝒙𝟐 ] 𝒅𝒙
𝟑 𝟓 𝟒
𝟏𝟔 𝟐 𝟒 𝟏 𝟑
= 𝟐𝝅 [ 𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙 − 𝒙 + 𝒙 ]
𝟐 𝟐
𝟑 𝟓 𝟑
𝟎

𝟏𝟔 𝟒 𝟏 𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟔𝟒
= 𝟐𝝅 [ 𝒙√𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 √𝒙 + 𝒙𝟑 ] = 𝟐𝝅 [ − 𝟑𝟐 − + ]
𝟑 𝟓 𝟑 𝟎 𝟑 𝟓 𝟑

𝟔𝟒
= 𝝅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝟑.
𝟓

Exercises
Find the volume of the solid of revolution formed by revolving the region R about the axis
of rotation that is indicated in each of the following using circular disk method as well as
cylindrical shell method.
𝜋
(1) 𝑦 = – 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 and the 𝑋 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 about the 𝑋 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. (Answer )
30
256
(2) ) 𝑦 = √25 − 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = 3 about the 𝑋 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. (Answer 𝜋)
3

(3) 𝑦 = 4 – 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = 0 about the 𝑋 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠.

(4) 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥−1 , 𝑦 = 𝑥 and 𝑥 = 0 about the 𝑋 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠.
3 𝑥 512
(5) 𝑦 = √ 𝑥 and 𝑦 = in the first quadrant about the 𝑌-axis. (Answer 𝜋)
4 21
153
(6) 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 about the line 𝑦 = 4. (Answer 𝜋)
5
96
(7) 𝑦 = 2√𝑥 − 1and 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 1 about the line 𝑥 = −1. (Answer 𝜋)
5
3 96
(8) 𝑦 = √ 𝑥 , 𝑥 = 8 and the 𝑋-axis about the𝑋-axis. (Answer 𝜋)
5
272
(9) 𝑦 = 2√𝑥 − 1 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 1 about the line 𝑥 = 6. (Answer 𝜋)
15
63
(10) 𝑥 = (𝑦 − 2)2 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 about the line 𝑦 = −1. (Answer 𝜋)
2

(11) y = secx, x = 0 and x = 4 π about the 𝑋-axis. (Answer 𝜋)

(12) 𝑦 = 4𝑒 𝑥 , 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 2 about the 𝑋-axis. (Answer 8𝜋[𝑒 4 − 1])
 Arc Length and Area of a Surface of Revolution
Deriving a formula for the arc length
Suppose that 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) is a continuous function on [𝒂, 𝒃] and it’s derivative 𝒇′ (𝒙)
is also continuous on [a,b]. The main aim here is to find a formula for the arc length 𝑳 of
the curve 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) over the interval [𝒂, 𝒃].
Consider the following picture:

𝑃𝑛−1

𝐿1 𝐿2
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐿𝑛
𝐿3

𝑥𝑛−1

To implement this idea, let ℙ = {𝒂 = 𝒙𝟎 , 𝒙𝟏 , 𝒙𝟐 , … , 𝒙𝒏−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒏 = 𝒃} be a partition

of [𝒂, 𝒃], i.e.,
𝒂 = 𝒙𝟎 < 𝒙𝟏 < 𝒙𝟐 < 𝒙𝟑 < ⋯ < 𝒙𝒏−𝟏 < 𝒙𝒏 = 𝒃
Let 𝑷𝟎 , 𝑷𝟏 , 𝑷𝟐 , … , 𝑷𝒏−𝟏 , 𝑷𝒏 be points on the curve 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) with X-coordinates
𝑷𝟎 (𝒂, 𝒇(𝒂)), 𝑷𝟏 (𝒙𝟏 , 𝒇(𝒙𝟏 )), 𝑷𝟐 ( 𝒙𝟐 , 𝒇( 𝒙𝟐 )), … , 𝑷𝒏−𝟏 (𝒙𝒏−𝟏 , 𝒇( 𝒙𝒏−𝟏 )), 𝑷𝒏 (𝒃, 𝒇(𝒃))
and join these points with straight line segments 𝑳𝟏 , 𝑳𝟐 , 𝑳𝟑 , ..., 𝑳𝒏 .
These line segments form a polygonal path that we can regard as an approximation to
the curve 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙).
Now. Consider the line segment 𝐿𝑘 in the subinterval [𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 ]:
 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑓(𝑥𝑘 )

𝐿𝑘 ∆𝑓(𝑥𝑘 )

𝑓(𝑥𝑘−1 ) 𝑃𝑘−1 ∆𝑥𝑘

𝑥𝑘−1 𝑥𝑘

From the above diagram ( using the Pythagorean theorem), we have

𝑳𝒌 = √(∆𝒙𝒌 )𝟐 + (∆𝒇(𝒙𝒌 ))𝟐 = √(∆𝒙𝒌 )𝟐 + [𝒇(𝒙𝒌 ) − 𝒇(𝒙𝒌−𝟏 )]𝟐.

If we sum the lengths 𝐿1 , 𝐿2 , 𝐿3 , ..., 𝐿𝑛 of the line segments
𝒑𝟎 𝒑𝟏 , 𝒑𝟏 𝒑𝟐 , 𝒑𝟐 𝒑𝟑 , …, 𝒑𝒏−𝟏 𝒑𝒏 respectively, we obtain an approximate length 𝐿 to the
curve 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) as:

𝑳 ≈ ∑𝒏𝒌=𝟏 𝑳𝒌 = ∑𝒏𝒌=𝟏 √[∆𝒙𝒌 ]𝟐 + [𝒇(𝒙𝒌 ) − 𝒇(𝒙𝒌−𝟏 )]𝟐 -------(*)

Now, since 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) is continuous on [𝒂, 𝒃]and [𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 ]⸦[𝒂, 𝒃], therefore it is also
continuous on the subinterval [𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 ].
Also, as 𝒇′ (𝒙) exists on (𝒂, 𝒃) and (𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 )⸦(𝒂, 𝒃), therefore 𝒇′ (𝒙) exists on the
subinterval (𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 ).
Thus 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) is continuous on [𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 ] and differentiable on (𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 ), therefore
from the Mean-Value Theorem, there is at least a real number
𝒙∗𝒌 ∈ (𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 ) such that
𝒇(𝒙𝒌 ) − 𝒇(𝒙𝒌−𝟏 ) 𝒇(𝒙𝒌 ) − 𝒇(𝒙𝒌−𝟏 )
𝒇′ (𝒙∗𝒌 ) = =
𝒙𝒌 − 𝒙𝒌−𝟏 ∆𝒙𝒌
→ 𝒇(𝒙𝒌 ) − 𝒇(𝒙𝒌−𝟏 ) = 𝒇′ (𝒙∗𝒌 )∆𝒙𝒌 -----------(* *)
Substitute (* *) in (*), we have:
 𝒏 𝒏
𝟐
𝑳 ≈ ∑ √(∆𝒙𝒌 )𝟐 + [𝒇′ (𝒙∗𝒌 )]𝟐 [∆𝒙𝒌 ] = ∑ √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙∗𝒌 )]𝟐 ∆𝒙𝒌
𝒌=𝟏 𝒌=𝟏

Thus, taking the limit as n increases and the widths ∆𝒙𝒌 of the subintervals
[𝒙𝒌−𝟏 , 𝒙𝒌 ] approach zero yields the following integral that defines the arc length 𝑳 of the
curve 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙), i.e.,
𝒃
𝑳= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒏→∞
∑𝒏𝒌=𝟏 √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙∗𝒌 )]𝟐 ∆𝒙𝒌 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙)]𝟐 𝒅𝒙.
𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒙∆𝒙𝒌→𝟎

Hence the formula of the arc length is given by:

𝒃 𝒃 𝒅𝒚 𝟐
𝑳 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙)]𝟐 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙

Theorem
If 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) is a continuous function on [𝒂, 𝒃] and it’s derivative 𝒇′ (𝒙) exists
and also continuous on [𝒂, 𝒃], then the arc length of a portion of the curve 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) on
[𝒂, 𝒃] is given by:

𝒃 𝒃 𝒅𝒚 𝟐
𝑳 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙)]𝟐 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙

Theorem
If 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚) is a continuous function on [𝒄, 𝒅] and it’s derivative 𝒇′ (𝒚) exists and
also continuous on [𝒄, 𝒅], then the arc length of a portion of the curve 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚) on [𝒄, 𝒅]
is given by:

𝒅 𝒃 𝒅𝒙 𝟐
𝑳 = ∫𝒄 √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒚)]𝟐 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒚

Theorem
If a curve is given by parametric equations 𝒙 = 𝒙(𝒕) and
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚
𝒚 = 𝒚(𝒕) ( 𝒂 ≤ 𝒕 ≤ 𝒃) and if and are exists and continuous on
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕

𝒂 ≤ 𝒕 ≤ 𝒃, then the arc length of a portion of this curve is given by:

 𝒃 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚 𝟐 𝟐
𝑳 = ∫𝒂 √ [ ] + [ ] 𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕

Note
𝒃 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚 𝟐 𝟐
The arc length formula 𝑳 = ∫𝒂 √ [ ] + [ ] 𝑑𝑡 of the curve given in parametric
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
equations can be explained by using the arc length formula in definition (4.2) as
follows:

𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕

•y •t •x
𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒕
Chain rule gives us = 𝒅𝒙 . Thus
𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒕

𝒅𝒚 𝟐 𝒅𝒚 𝟐
𝒃 𝒅𝒚 𝟐 𝒃 𝒃 ( )
𝑳= ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒙 =
𝒅𝒙
∫𝒂 √𝟏 +( 𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒙 ) 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + 𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒙 𝟐
𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒕 ( )
𝒅𝒕

𝒅𝒙 𝟐 𝒅𝒚 𝟐
𝒃 ( ) +( ) 𝒃 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚 𝟐 𝟐 𝒅𝒕
= ∫𝒂 √ 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙 𝟐𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 √( ) + ( ) . 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙
( )
𝒅𝒕

𝒃 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒚 𝟐 𝟐
= ∫𝒂 √( ) + ( ) 𝒅𝒕.
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕

Examples
𝟐 𝟐 𝟒 √𝟐
(1) Find the arc length of a portion of the function 𝒚 = √𝒙𝟑 from (𝟏, ) to (𝟐, ).
𝟑 𝟑 𝟑

𝟐 𝟑𝒙𝟐
Sol. 𝒇′ (𝒙) = . = √𝒙 → [𝒇′ (𝒙)]𝟐 = 𝒙.
𝟑 𝟐 √ 𝒙𝟑

𝒃 𝟐 𝟐
𝑳 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙)]𝟐 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝟏 √𝟏 + 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 = (𝟏 + 𝒙)√𝟏 + 𝒙 ]𝟐𝟏
𝟑
𝟐
= {𝟑√𝟑 − 𝟐√𝟐}.
𝟑

(2) Find the arc length of a portion of the function 𝒚 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒙 for
𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝒍𝒏𝟏𝟎.
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚 𝟐
Sol. = 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉𝒙 → [ ] = 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉𝟐 𝒙
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙

𝒃 𝒅𝒚 𝒍𝒏𝟏𝟎 𝟐
𝑳 = ∫𝒂 √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝟎 √𝟏 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉𝟐 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙

𝒍𝒏𝟏𝟎 𝒍𝒏𝟏𝟎
= ∫𝟎 √𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉𝟐 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝟎 |𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒙| 𝒅𝒙
𝒍𝒏𝟏𝟎
= ∫𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒙 𝒅𝒙 (since 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒙 ≥ 𝟏 and hence 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒙 > 𝟎)

= 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉𝒙]𝒍𝒏𝟏𝟎
𝟎 = 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐡(𝐥𝐧𝟏𝟎) − 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐡(𝟎)
𝟏
𝟏𝟎−
𝟏𝟎 𝟗𝟗 𝒆𝒙 −𝒆−𝒙
= −𝟎= (since 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒉𝒙 = )
𝟐 𝟐𝟎 𝟐

(3) Find the arc length of a portion of the curve 𝟐𝟒𝒙𝒚 = 𝒚𝟒 + 𝟒𝟖 from the point
𝟒 𝟏𝟏
( , 𝟐) to the point ( , 𝟒).
𝟑 𝟒
𝒚𝟒 + 𝟒𝟖 𝒚𝟑 𝟐
Sol. 𝟐𝟒𝒙𝒚 = 𝒚𝟒 + 𝟒𝟖 → 𝒙 = = +
𝟐𝟒𝒚 𝟐𝟒 𝒚
𝒅𝒙 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
→ = 𝒚 − 𝟐
𝒅𝒚 𝟖 𝒚
𝒅 𝒅𝒙 𝟒 𝟐𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
𝑳 = ∫𝒄 √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝟐 √𝟏 + ( 𝒚𝟐 − ) 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒚 𝟖 𝒚𝟐
𝟒 𝟏 𝟏 𝟒 𝟒 𝟏 𝟏 𝟒
= ∫𝟐 √𝟏 + 𝒚𝟒 − + 𝟒 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝟐 √ + 𝒚𝟒 + 𝟒 𝒅𝒚
𝟔𝟒 𝟐 𝒚 𝟐 𝟔𝟒 𝒚

𝟒 𝟏 𝟏 𝟒 𝟒 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
= ∫𝟐 √ 𝒚𝟒 + + 𝟒 𝒅𝒚 = ∫𝟐 √( 𝒚𝟐 + 𝟐) 𝒅𝒚
𝟔𝟒 𝟐 𝒚 𝟖 𝒚
𝟒 𝟏 𝟐
= ∫𝟐 | 𝒚𝟐 + | 𝒅𝒚
𝟖 𝒚𝟐
𝟒 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
= ∫𝟐 (𝟖 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐) 𝒅𝒚 (since 𝟖 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 > 𝟎 for all 𝟐 ≤ 𝒚 ≤ 𝟒)
𝟏 𝟑 𝟐 𝟖 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏𝟑 𝟐 𝟏𝟑 𝟒 𝟏𝟕
= 𝒚 − ]𝟒𝟐 = ( − ) − ( − 𝟏) = + = + = .
𝟐𝟒 𝒚 𝟑 𝟐 𝟑 𝟔 𝟑 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔

Exercise
𝟑
(1) Find the arc length of a portion of the curve 𝒙 = √𝒚𝟐 from (𝟏, 𝟏) to (𝟐, 𝟐√𝟐).
𝟐𝟐√𝟐𝟐−𝟏𝟑√𝟏𝟑
(Ans. )
𝟐𝟕
(2) Find the circumference of a circle of radius 𝒓 given by the parametric equations
𝒙 = 𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕 and 𝒚 = 𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒕 on 𝟎 ≤ 𝒕 ≤ 𝟐𝝅. (Ans. 2𝜋𝑟)
 Deriving a formula for the area of a surface of revolution
Consider the surface shown in the following figure,

𝑦𝑃𝑘−1=𝑓(𝑥 𝑃𝑘 𝑦𝑘=𝑓(𝑥𝑘)
𝑘 𝑘−1 ) 𝑃𝑘−1 𝑙𝑘

which is obtained by rotating the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) from 𝑥 = 𝑎 to 𝑥 = 𝑏 about the 𝑋-axis,
where 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous, positive and has a continuous derivative on [𝑎, 𝑏]. To derive a
formula for its surface area, we divide the closed interval [𝑎, 𝑏] into 𝑛 closed subintervals
with end points
𝑎 = 𝑥0 , 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , 𝑥3 , …, 𝑥𝑘−1 , 𝑥𝑘 , …, 𝑥𝑛−1 , 𝑥𝑛 = 𝑏
and widths
∆𝑥1 , ∆𝑥2 , ∆𝑥3 , …, ∆𝑥𝑘 , …, ∆𝑥𝑛−1 , ∆𝑥𝑛
as we did in determining arc length. In fact we approximate the arc length of a portion of
the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) from 𝑥 = 𝑎 to 𝑥 = 𝑏 by a polygonal path 𝑃0 𝑃1 , 𝑃1 𝑃2 , 𝑃2 𝑃3 , …,
𝑃𝑘−1 𝑃𝑘 , …, 𝑃𝑛−1 𝑃𝑛
where
𝑃0 = 𝑃0 (𝑎, 𝑓(𝑎)), 𝑃1 = 𝑃1 (𝑥1 , 𝑓(𝑥1 )), 𝑃2 = 𝑃2 (𝑥2 , 𝑓(𝑥2 )), …,
𝑃𝑘−1 = 𝑃𝑘−1 (𝑥𝑘−1 , 𝑓(𝑥𝑘−1 )), 𝑃𝑖 = 𝑃𝑘 (𝑥𝑘 , 𝑓(𝑥𝑘 )), …,
𝑃𝑛−1 = 𝑃𝑛−1 (𝑥𝑛−1 , 𝑓(𝑥𝑛−1 )), 𝑃𝑛 = 𝑃𝑛 (𝑥𝑛 , 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )).
The part of the surface on the closed interval [𝑥𝑘−1 , 𝑥𝑘 ] can be approximated by taking
the line segment 𝑃𝑘−1 𝑃𝑘 and rotating it about the 𝑋-axis.
The resulted slice is a band (figure (b)) with a slant height 𝑙𝑘 = |𝑃𝑘−1 𝑃𝑘 | and average
1
radius 𝑟 = [𝑓(𝑥𝑘−1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑘 )], and its surface area equals
2
𝑓(𝑥𝑘−1 )+𝑓(𝑥𝑘 )
𝑆𝑘 = 2𝜋𝑟𝑙𝑘 = 2𝜋 𝑙𝑘 .
2
But, from (4.1), 𝑙𝑘 = |𝑃𝑘−1 𝑃𝑘 | = √1 + [𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑘∗ )]2 ∆𝑥𝑘 , where 𝑥𝑘∗ 𝜖[𝑥𝑘−1 , 𝑥𝑘 ]. By letting
𝑀𝑎𝑥∆𝑥𝑘 → 0, and since 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous, we have 𝑓(𝑥𝑘−1 ) ≈ 𝑓(𝑥𝑘∗ ) and 𝑓(𝑥𝑘 ) ≈
𝑓(𝑥𝑘∗ ). Therefore,
𝑓(𝑥 ∗ )+𝑓(𝑥 ∗ )
𝑆𝑘 = 2𝜋 𝑘 𝑘
𝑙𝑘 = 2𝜋 𝑓(𝑥𝑘∗ ) 𝑙𝑘 = 2𝜋 𝑓(𝑥𝑘∗ ) √1 + [𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑘∗ )]2 ∆𝑥𝑘 .
2
Hence the complete surface area is given by
𝒏 𝒃
𝑺= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 ∑ 𝟐𝝅 𝒇(𝒙∗𝒌 ) √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙∗𝒌 )]𝟐 ∆𝒙𝒌 = ∫ 𝟐𝝅 𝒇(𝒙)√𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙)]𝟐 𝒅𝒙
𝑴𝒂𝒙 ∆𝒙𝒌 →𝟎 𝒂
𝒊=𝟏

Theorem: Area of a Surface of Revolution

Let 𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) be a continuous function on [𝒂, 𝒃], 𝒇(𝒙) ≥ 𝟎 for all
𝒙 ∈ [𝒂, 𝒃]. Then the surface of revolution generated by revolving the portion of
𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙) between 𝒙 = 𝒂 and 𝒙 = 𝒃 about the 𝑿-axis is given by:
𝒃 𝒃 𝒅𝒚 𝟐
𝑺 = ∫𝒂 𝟐𝝅 𝒚 √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒙)]𝟐 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝒂 𝒇(𝒙) √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙

Theorem: Area of a Surface of Revolution

Let 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚) be a continuous function on [𝒄, 𝒅], 𝒇(𝒚) ≥ 𝟎 for all
𝒚 ∈ [𝒄, 𝒅]. Then the surface of revolution generated by revolving the portion of 𝒙 = 𝒇(𝒚)
between 𝒚 = 𝒄 and 𝒚 = 𝒅 about the 𝑦-axis is given by:
𝒅 𝒅 𝒅𝒙 𝟐
𝑺 = ∫𝒄 𝟐𝝅 𝒙 √𝟏 + [𝒇′ (𝒚)]𝟐 𝒅𝒚 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝒄 𝒇(𝒚) √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝒚

Example
Find the surface’s area of the surface of revolution formed by revolving the portion of
the curve
𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 between 𝑥 = 0 and 𝒙 = 𝟏 about the 𝑿-axis.
𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒚 𝟐
Sol. 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟑 → = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 → ( ) = 𝟗𝒙𝟒
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝒃 𝒅𝒚 𝟐 𝟏
𝑺 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝒂 𝒚 √𝟏 + ( ) 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝝅 ∫𝟎 𝒙𝟑 √𝟏 + 𝟗𝒙𝟒 𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙

𝟐𝝅 𝟏 𝝅 𝟐
= ∫ 𝟑𝟔𝒙𝟑 √𝟏 + 𝟗𝒙𝟒 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟏𝟖 . 𝟑 (𝟏 + 𝟗𝒙𝟒 )√𝟏 + 𝟗𝒙𝟒 ]𝟏𝟎
𝟑𝟔 𝟎
𝝅
= [𝟏𝟎 √𝟏𝟎 − 𝟏].
𝟐𝟕
 Exercise
Find the surface’s area of the surface of revolution formed by revolving the portion of
the curve 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 between 𝒙 = 𝟏 and 𝒙 = 𝟐 about the 𝒀-axis.
(Ans. π/6 [17 √17-5 √5])