2.

6
DOUBLE INTEGRALS CONTINUED
Change of variables
In the evaluation of repeated integrals, the computational
work can often be reduced by changing the variables of
integration to some other appropriate variables. The
procedure followed in this regard in respect of double
integrals is explained below.

Suppose 𝑥 and 𝑦 are related to two variables 𝑢 and 𝑣

through relations of the form 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑢, 𝑣 , 𝑦 = 𝑦 𝑢, 𝑣 , or
𝑢 = 𝑢 𝑥, 𝑦 , 𝑣 = 𝑣 𝑥, 𝑦 . Suppose also that 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑢, 𝑣 are such
that the Jacobain
𝜕 (𝑥,𝑦)
𝐽= ≠ 0.
𝜕 (𝑢,𝑣)

Then it can be proved that (-we omit the proof, see our
video to get some idea of the following)

 f ( x, y)dxdy    (u, v) Jdudv

 
(1)

Hence ℜ is the region in which (𝑥, 𝑦) vary, ℜ is the

corresponding region in which (𝑢, 𝑣) vary, and 𝜑 𝑢, 𝑣 =
𝑓 𝑥 𝑢, 𝑣 , 𝑦(𝑢, 𝑣) .
Once the double integral with respect to 𝑥 and 𝑦 is
changed to a double integral with respect to 𝑢 and 𝑣 by
using the formula (1), the later integral can be evaluated by
expressing it in terms of repeated integrals with
appropriate limits of integration.

Double Integral in Polar form

As a special case of formula (1), we can obtain the relation
connecting a double integral in Cartesian form and the
corresponding double integral in polar form.

Let (𝑟, 𝜃) be the polar coordinates of a point 𝑥, 𝑦 . Then

𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 , 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃, so that
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕 𝑥,𝑦 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝜃 cos 𝜃 −𝑟 sin 𝜃
𝐽= = 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
= = 𝑟.
𝜕 𝑟,𝜃 sin 𝜃 𝑟 cos 𝜃
𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝜃

Hence, for 𝑢, 𝑣 = 𝑟, 𝜃 , formula (1) becomes

 f ( x, y)dxdy    (r, )rdrd


(2)


Here ℜ is the region in which 𝑟, 𝜃 vary as (𝑥, 𝑦) vary in ℜ,

and 𝜑 𝑟, 𝜃 = 𝑓 𝑟 cos 𝜃 , 𝑟 sin 𝜃 .

The formula (2) is particularly useful when the region ℜ

is bounded (in part or whole) by a circle centred at the
origin. Observed that when (𝑥, 𝑦) are changed to 𝑟, 𝜃 , 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦
is changed to 𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃.
Computation of Area

Let us recall the double integral expression for 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 ≡ 1,

this expression reads

b y 2( x)
 dA   dxdy   

dxdy
(3)
A a y 1( x )

The integral  dA
A
represents the total area 𝐴 of the plane

region ℜ over which the repeated integrals are taken. Thus,

expression (3) given above may be used to compute the
area 𝐴. We note that 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 is the plane area element 𝑑𝐴 in
the Cartesian form. By taking 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) ≡ 1 . We obtain the
following formula for area in polar coordinates:



dxdy   rdrd

(4)

We observe that 𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃 is the plane area element in polar

form.

A List of Curves

The following list of curves will be useful to find the limits

of integration of some problems.
Problem 1: Evaluate the double integral 𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 over
the positive quadrant bounded by the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎 2 .

Solution:
𝑌

𝑟=𝑎

𝑜 𝑎 𝑋

In the positive quadrant bounded by the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎 2 ,

the radial distance 𝑟 varies from 0 to 𝑎 and the polar angle
𝜋
𝜃 varies from 0 to . Therefore,
2
a  2

 xydxdy     r cos  r sin   rdrd 

r 0 0

a  2
a  2
 1 4  1 2 
  r dr   sin  cos d   r    sin  
3

0 0
4  2
0  0

1 4

8a
.
 2 2
a a x
Problem 2: Evaluate the integral 𝐼 =   y x  y dydx
2 2 2

0 y 0

transforming to polar coordinates.

Solution: In the given integral, 𝑥 increases from 0 to 𝑎 and,

for each 𝑥, 𝑦 varies from 0 to 𝑎 2 − 𝑥 2 . Thus, the lower
value of 𝑦 lies on the 𝑋 − axis and the upper value of 𝑦 lies
on the curve 𝑦 = 𝑎 2 − 𝑥 2 , or 𝑦 2 = 𝑎 2 − 𝑥 2 , or 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎 2 ,
which is the circle of radius 𝑎 centred at the origin.
Therefore the region ℜ of integration is the region in the
first quadrant bounded by the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎 2 ,
𝜋
We note that in ℜ, 𝜃 varies from 0 from and, for each
2
𝜃, 𝑟 varies from 0 to 𝑎. Hence,
𝑎 𝑎 2 −𝑥 2 2
𝐼= 0 0
𝑦 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2
𝜋
𝑎
= 2
𝜃 =0 𝑟=0
𝑟 2 sin2 𝜃 𝑟(𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃)
𝜋
𝑎
= 0
𝑟 4 𝑑𝑟 × 0
2 sin2 𝜃𝑑𝜃

𝑎5 1 𝜋 𝜋
= . . = 𝑎5 .
5 2 2 20
Problem 3: If ℜ is the region 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ≤ 𝑎 2 , 𝑥 ≥ 0, evaluate
 ( x  y)dxdy.


Solution:

The given region ℜ is bounded by the 𝑌 − axis and the right

side of the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎 2 as shown in figure. We
observe that ℜ consists of two parts ℜ1 andℜ2 . In ℜ1 , 𝜃
𝜋 3𝜋
increases from 0 to , and in ℜ2 , 𝜃 increases from to 2𝜋.
2 2
In both parts, 𝑟 varies from 0 to 𝑎. Therefore,
 ( x  y)dxdy


   x  y dxdy    x  y dxdy
1
2
  2 a 2 a
    r cos  r sin  rdrd     r cos  r sin   rdrd
  0 0   3 2 r 0

a 

 2 2 

 r dr     cos   sin   d    cos   sin  
2

0 0
 3 2 

3

 a 1  1  1  1  a .
2 3

3 3
Problem 4: Using repeated integrals, find the area
bounded by the arc of the ellipse 𝑥 2 𝑎 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑏2 = 1 in the
first quadrant.

Solution: In the region of integration 𝑥 increases from 0 to

𝑎 and, for each 𝑥, 𝑦 increase from 0 to a point on the
ellipse; i.e the point for which 𝑦 = 𝑏 1 − 𝑥 2 𝑎 2 1 2 . Hence,
the required are is

  
b 1 2 2
 
12 12

1 x 2 a 2 x a
a  
b

 
a
A   dydyx   
x 0 
 dy  dx
x 0 y 0 y 0 
 

12
 x 
a x 
a 2 a 12  2
  b 1
b b
dx     a cos  a cos d  ,
2 2 dx 
 2 a0 a
 a 
0 0

on setting 𝑥 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃
𝜋
1 𝜋 𝜋
= 𝑎𝑏 0
2 cos 2 𝜃𝑑𝜃 = 𝑎𝑏. . = 𝑎𝑏.
2 2 4
Problem 5: Find the areas enclosed by the following
curves:

(i) Cardioids: 𝑟 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) between 𝜃 = 0 and 𝜃 = 𝜋 .

(ii) One loop of the Lemniscate 𝑟 2 = 𝑎 2 cos2𝜃 .

Solution:
(i) 𝑌

𝑟 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)

𝜃=𝜋 𝑂 𝜃=0 𝑋

The given region is depicted in figure (shaded portion).In

this region, 𝜃 varies from 0 to 𝜋 and, for each 𝜃, r varies
from 0 to 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃).
Therefore, the required area is
𝜋
𝑎(1+𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 )
𝐴= 𝑟𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃
𝑟=0
𝜃 =0

𝜋 𝑟 2 𝑎(1+𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 )
= [ ]
0 2 0
𝑑𝜃
 𝑎2 𝜋
= 0
(1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)2 𝑑𝜃
2

𝑎2 𝜋 1
= 0
{1 + 2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃)} 𝑑𝜃
2 2

𝑎2 1 3𝑎 2
= 𝜋+0+ 𝜋+0 = 𝜋.
2 2 4

(ii)
𝑌

𝑦=𝑥

−𝑎 𝑎
𝑋

𝑦 = −𝑥

The given Lemniscate is shown in figure. We note that the

area enclosed by one loop of this curve is twice the area
𝜋
bounded by the first quadrant, for which 𝜃 increases 0 to
4
and, r varies from 0 to 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃. Hence the required area is
𝜋/4 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜃
𝐴=2 𝜃 =0 𝑟=0
𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃

𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜃
𝜋/4 𝑟2
=2 0
𝑑𝜃
2 0
 𝜋/4
= 𝑎 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃𝑑𝜃
0
𝜋
sin 2𝜃 4 𝑎2
= 𝑎2 = .
2 0 2
Exercise
1. Evaluate the following integrals by changing the Cartesian
coordinates to polar coordinates:
𝑎 𝑎 2 −𝑥 2
a. −𝑎 0 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥

4𝑎 𝑦 𝑥 2 −𝑦 2
b. 0 𝑦 2 /4𝑎 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦
𝜋 𝑎
2. Evaluate the integral 𝑜 0
𝑟 3 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃 by
changing the polar coordinates to Cartesian
coordinates.
3. Find the area lying inside the circle r = a sinθ and
outside the cardioids 𝑟 = 𝑎(1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃).
4. Find the area included between the curve 𝑟 = 𝑎(𝑠𝑒𝑐𝜃 +
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) and its asymptote 𝑟 = 𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑐𝜃.
5. Find the area bounded by the positive X-axis, the arc
of the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎 2 and the upper part of the line
𝑦=𝑥.
6. Find the area enclosed by the parabola 𝑦 2 = 4𝑎𝑥 and
the line 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3𝑎.
7. Find the area bounded by the parabola 𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 and
the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
8. Find the area bounded between the circles 𝑟 = 𝑎 and
𝑟 = 2𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 .
9. Find the area bounded by the circles 𝑟 = 2𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 and
𝑟 = 2𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 , 𝑏 > 𝑎 > 0.

Answers
1.
 1
a. 𝜋𝑎 3
3
𝜋 5
b. 8( − )𝑎 2
2 3
2. 0
𝜋
3. 𝑎 2 (1 − )
4
5𝜋𝑎 2
4.
4
𝜋𝑎 2
5.
8
10 2
6. 𝑎
3
9
7.
2
𝜋 3
8. 𝑎 2 ( + )
3 2
9. (b2 − 2
a )π