Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

COMPUTING THE AREA OF A SURFACE OF REVOLUTION

The following problems will use integration to find the Surface Area of a Solid of Revolution. We start with a
region R in the xy -plane, bounded by the graphs of y = f (x) , x = a , x = b , and the x -axis. "Spin" region R
around the x -axis to create a Solid of Revolution. Imagine the surface of this Solid of Revolution composed
of consecutive thin circular ribbons. The details of this Surface Area Method are posted below.

AreaofSurfaceofRevolution

ソ=f（x）
Considerthe
graphofY=f(x)
forasxIb.
Createa

A b Surfaceof
Revolution

Irevolvingthegrophabout
thex-aug：
Y
Surfoce

b.

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Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

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Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

When doing problems we will first sketch a graph of the function on a specific interval. If we are revolving
the graph of y = f (x) about the x -axis, we will mark the radius r = f (x) at x on the x -axis for a ≤ x ≤ b . If
we are revolving the graph of x = g(y) about the y -axis, we will mark the radius r = g(y) at y on the x -axis
for c ≤ x ≤ d . Then the total Surface Area of the Surface of Revolution is either
b b
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
dy ‾2 ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
dy ‾2
(radius)√1 + ( ) dx = 2π (f (x))√1 + ( ) dx
∫a ∫a
Surf ace Area = 2π
dx dx

or

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
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Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

d ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
dx ‾2 d ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
dx ‾2
√ √
(radius) 1 + ( ) dy = 2π (g(y)) 1 + ( ) dy
∫c ∫c
Surf ace Area = 2π
dy dy

EXAMPLE 1: Consider the graph of y = x 3 on the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 2. Compute the Area of the Surface of
Revolution formed by revolving this graph about the x -axis.

Solution: Here is a carefully labeled sketch of the graph with a radius r marked together with x on the x -axis.

Thus the total Area of this Surface of Revolution is

2
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
dy ‾2
(radius)√1 + ( ) dx
∫0
Surf ace Area = 2π
dx
2

∫0
= 2π (x 3 )√‾1‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
+ (3x 2 )‾2 dx

∫0
= 2π (x 3 )√‾1‾‾‾‾‾
+ 9x ‾4 dx

2 1 2
= 2π ⋅ (1 + 9x 4 ) 3/2 ∣∣∣
3 36 0

1 2
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Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

1 2
= 2π (1 + 9x 4 ) 3/2 ∣∣∣
54 0

2π 2
= (1 + 9x 4 ) 3/2 ∣∣∣
54 0

π
=
27 ( (1 + 9(2) 4 ) 3/2 − (1 + 9(0) 4 ) 3/2 )

π
27 (
= (145) 3/2 − (1) 3/2 )

π
27 (
= (145) 3/2 − 1)

EXAMPLE 2: Consider the graph of y = x 2 on the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 2. Compute the Area of the Surface of
Revolution formed by revolving this graph about the y -axis.

Solution: First solve the equation for x getting x = y1/2 . Here is a carefully labeled sketch of the graph with a
radius r marked together with y on the y -axis.

Thus the total Area of this Surface of Revolution is

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
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Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

4 ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
dx ‾2
√
(radius) 1 + ( ) dy
∫0
Surf ace Area = 2π
dy

∫0
= 2π (y1/2 )√1‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
+ ((1/2)y−1/2 )‾2 dy

∫0
= 2π (y1/2 )√‾1‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
+ (1/4)y−1‾ dy

4 ‾‾‾‾‾‾
1‾
∫0 √
= 2π (y1/2 ) 1 + dy
4y

4 ‾4y
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾1‾
∫0 √ 4y
= 2π (y1/2 ) + dy
4y

4 ‾4y
‾‾‾‾‾
+ 1‾
∫0 √ 4y
1/2
= 2π (y ) dy

4
√‾4y
‾‾‾‾
+ 1‾
∫0
= 2π (y1/2 ) dy
√‾‾
4y

4
√‾4y
‾‾‾‾
+ 1‾
∫0
= 2π (y1/2 ) dy
2y1/2
4
√‾4y
‾‾‾‾
+ 1‾
∫0
= 2π dy
2
4
2π
2 ∫0
= √‾4y
‾‾‾‾
+ 1‾ dy

2 1 4
=π⋅ ⋅ (4y + 1) 3/2 ∣∣∣
3 4 0

π 4
= (4y + 1) 3/2 ∣∣∣
6 0

π
6(
= (4(4) + 1) 3/2 − (4(0) + 1) 3/2 )

π
=
6 ( (17) 3/2 − (1) 3/2 )

π
(
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Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

π
6(
= (17) 3/2 − 1)

Most of the following problems are average. A few are somewhat challenging. All are "algebra intensive" and
will require that you remember your integration techniques. Many answers will have "messy numbers so be
patient.

PROBLEM 1 : Consider the graphs of y = √x on the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 4. Compute the area of the
surface of revolution formed by revolving this graph about the x -axis.

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 1.

PROBLEM 2 : Consider the graphs of x = 13 y3 on the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 9. Compute the area of the
surface of revolution formed by revolving this graph about the y -axis.

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 2.

PROBLEM 3 : Consider the graphs of y = 43 x 3/4 on the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 1. Compute the area of the
surface of revolution formed by revolving this graph about the x -axis.

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 3.

PROBLEM 4 : Consider the graphs of y = x 3/2 on the interval 1 ≤ x ≤ 4. Compute the area of the
surface of revolution formed by revolving this graph about the y -axis.

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 4.

PROBLEM 5 : Consider the graphs of y = (2x − x 2 ) 1/2 on the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 2. Compute the area of
the surface of revolution formed by revolving this graph about the x -axis.

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 5.

PROBLEM 6 : Consider the graphs of y = 16 x 3 + 2x 1

on the interval 1 ≤ x ≤ 3. Compute the area of
the surface of revolution formed by revolving this graph about the x -axis.

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 6.

1 4 1
PROBLEM 7 : Consider the graphs of x = 8
y + 4y2
on the interval 1 ≤ y ≤ 2. Compute the area of
the surface of revolution formed by revolving this graph about the y -axis.

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Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 7.

PROBLEM 8 : Consider a right circular cone of height h and base radius r . Find a formula for the
lateral surface area (the circular base excluded) of this cone.

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 8.

PROBLEM 9 : Consider the graph of x 2/3 + y2/3 = 1 , called an astroid. Compute the area of the
surface of revolution formed by revolving this graph about the y -axis.

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Computing the Area of a Surface of Revolution 2025-04-08, 7:51 PM

Click HERE to see a detailed solution to problem 9.

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Click HERE to return to the original list of various types of calculus problems.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please e-mail any correspondence to Duane Kouba by clicking
on the following address :

[email protected]

A heartfelt "Thank you" goes to The MathJax Consortium and the online Desmos Grapher for making the
construction of graphs and this webpage fun and easy.

Duane Kouba ... October 12, 2020

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