Volumes

In this section, we will see that another application of integrals. We will compute the volume of certain
solids using integrals. The first type of solid we analyze is a solid of revolution. These type of solids include
right circular cylinders or disks, right circular cones, and spheres, among others.
In Figure 1a, we see a rectangle with a width of 𝑤 and length 𝑅. If the rectangle is revolved about its base,
a solid in the shape of a disk is generated. The disk will have a radius of 𝑅 units and a thickness 𝑤, as seen
in Figure 1b. The volume of the disk is
Volumes

(Volume of disk ) = 𝜋𝑅2 𝑤.

Figure 1a Figure 1b
A rectangle of width 𝑤 and length 𝑅. A disk of width or thickness 𝑤 and radius 𝑅.

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 The Disk Method

When a planar region, as shown in Figure 2, is revolved about an axis of revolution, then the volume of
the solid generated is given by one of the integrals.

Horizontal Axis of Revolution Vertical Axis of Revolution

The Disk Method

Here, 𝑅 is the length of a rectangle or the radius of a disk.

Figure 2: A typical rectangle is perpendicular to the axis of revolution.

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 An easier application of the Disk Method is the case when the axis of revolution is the 𝑥-axis.
Example: A solid is generated when the region under the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑥 2 in the first
quadrant is revolved about the 𝑥-axis. Find the volume of the solid.
Solution: We draw the region, consider a partition of [0, 1], and draw a typical rectangle that is
perpendicular to the axis of revolution, as in Figure 3. If the rectangle is revolved about the 𝑥-axis, a
disk is generated with a radius of 𝑅 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑥 2 .
The Disk Method

Applying the Disk Method, the volume of the solid is

Figure 3
The length of a typical
rectangle is 𝑅 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑥 2

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 Example: The Disk Method and a Vertical Axis of Revolution
A solid is generated when the triangular region bounded by the lines 2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1, 𝑥 = 0, and 𝑦 = 0
is revolved about the 𝑦-axis. Find the volume of the solid.
Solution: We draw the region, consider a partition of [0,1], and draw a typical rectangle that is
perpendicular to the axis of revolution, as in Figure 4. If the rectangle is revolved about the 𝑦-axis, a disk
is generated with a radius given by
1−𝑦
The Disk Method

𝑅 𝑦 = .
2
Applying the Disk Method, we find that the volume of the solid is

Figure 4
The length of a typical rectangle is
𝑅 𝑦 = (1 − 𝑦)/2 and the width is Δ𝑦.

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 Example Applying the Disk Method
A region is bounded by the lines 𝑦 = 2𝑥, 𝑦 = −1, 𝑥 = 0, and 𝑥 = 2. Find the volume of the solid
generated when the region is revolved about the axis 𝑦 = −1.

Solution:
Applying the Disk Method, the volume of the solid is
The Disk Method

Figure 5
The length of the
rectangle is 𝑅(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1.

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 The Washer Method

Consider a rectangle and a horizontal axis of revolution as in Figure 6a. Let 𝑟 and 𝑅 denote the
distance between the base and the top of the rectangle from the axis of revolution, respectively. If the
rectangular region is revolved about the axis of revolution, then a solid is generated as shown in Figure
6b. The solid is called a washer.
The Washer Method

Figure 6a Figure 6b
Revolving a rectangular A washer with outer radius 𝑅
region about a horizontal axis. and inner radius 𝑟.

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 Suppose an axis of revolution does not intersect the interior of a region as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
If the region is revolved about the axis of revolution, then the volume of the solid generated is given
by one of the integrals.

Horizontal Axis of Revolution Vertical Axis of Revolution

The Washer Method

Here, 𝑅 is the outer radius and r is the inner radius.

Figure 7 Figure 8

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 Example: A region is bounded by the parabola 𝑥 = 𝑦 2 + 2, the lines 𝑦 = 1, 𝑦 = 2, and 𝑥 = 0. Find
the volume of the solid generated when the region is revolved about a line 𝑥 = 6.
Solution:
(Outer radius) = 𝑅(𝑦) = 6
(Inner radius) = 𝑟 𝑦 = 6 − 𝑦 2 + 2 = −𝑦 2 + 4
The Washer Method

2 2 2
Volume = 𝜋 ‫׬‬1 𝑅 𝑦 −𝑟 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2
= 𝜋 ‫׬‬1 62 − −𝑦 2 + 4 2
𝑑𝑦
2
= 𝜋 ‫׬‬1 36 − 𝑦 4 − 8𝑦 2 + 16 𝑑𝑦
2
= 𝜋 ‫׬‬1 −𝑦 4 + 8𝑦 2 + 20 𝑑𝑦
2
𝑦 5 8𝑦 3 824 337 487
=𝜋 − + + 20𝑦 อ = 𝜋 − = 𝜋
5 3 15 15 15
1

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 Exercises

1. A region is bounded by the parabola 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥 2, the lines 𝑥 = 1, 𝑥 = 4 and 𝑥 axis. Find the
volume of the solid generated when the region is revolved about 𝑥 axis.
4 828
Answer: 𝑉 = 𝜋 ‫׬‬1 1 − 𝑥 2 2 𝑑𝑥 = 𝜋
5

2. A region is bounded by 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 3 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 3. Find the volume of the solid generated when
the region is revolved about 𝑥 axis.
Exercises

1 13
Answer: 𝑉 = 𝜋 ‫׬‬0 𝑥 2 − 3 2 − 𝑥−3 2 𝑑𝑥 = 15 𝜋

3. A region is bounded by 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 3, 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 1, 𝑦 = −1 and 𝑦 = 1. Find the volume of the solid

generated when the region is revolved about 𝑦 axis.
1 2 10
Answer: 𝑉 = 𝜋 ‫׬‬−1 𝑦+3 − 𝑦+1 2 𝑑𝑦 = 𝜋
3

4. A region is bounded by 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = 𝑥. Find the volume of the solid generated when the region is
revolved about the line 𝑦 = −2.
1 4
Answer: 𝑉 = 𝜋 ‫׬‬0 𝑥 + 2 2 − 𝑥 2 + 2 2 𝑑𝑥 = 5 𝜋

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 5. A region is bounded by 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = 2𝑥. Find the volume of the solid generated when the region
is revolved about the line 𝑥 = −2.
4 2 𝑦 2
Answer: 𝑉 = 𝜋 ‫׬‬0 𝑦+2 − +2 𝑑𝑦 = 8𝜋
2

𝜋
6. A region is bounded by the graph of 𝑦 = cos 𝑥, 𝑦 = sin 𝑥, 𝑥 = 4 and the 𝑦-axis. Find the volume of
the solid that is generated when the region is rotated about the 𝑥 axis.
Exercises

𝜋
𝜋
Answer: 𝑉 = 𝜋 ‫׬‬0 cos2 𝑥 − sin2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 =
4
2

7. A region is bounded by the lines of 𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = 3, 𝑦 = −1, 𝑦 = 4. Find the volume of the solid that is
generated when the region is rotated about the line 𝑥 = 5.
4
Answer: 𝑉 = 𝜋 ‫׬‬−1 72 − 22 𝑑𝑦 = 225𝜋

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