Chapter 3

APPLICATIONS OF DOUBLE INTEGRAL

(Volume, Surface Area, Mass, Area)

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

a) Use double integrals to calculate the volume of a region between two surfaces,
b) Calculate surface area by using double integral,
c) Use double integral to find the volume of the indicated solid.

d) solve the area of a region using double integral,

e) solve the area bounded by a graph using double integral,

f) solve the mass and locate the center of mass using double integral,

g) solve the mass of the region using double integral.

Double integrals as volume

𝑏
You are probably familiar that in one-variable calculus, the integral ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)dx for
positive 𝑓(𝑥)can be interpreted as the area under the curve 𝑓(𝑥) over the interval [𝑎, 𝑏].

The integral is the area between the curve 𝑓(𝑥)and the x-axis. In the same way, the
double integral ∫ ∫𝐷 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)dA of positive 𝑓(𝑥) can be interpreted as the volume under the
surface 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥) over the region D. Imagine that the blue object below is the surface 𝑧 =
𝑓(𝑥) floating above the 𝑥𝑦-plane. The double integral can be interpreted as the volume
between the surface 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)and the 𝑥𝑦-plane, i.e, the “cylinder” above the region D.

1
 Example 1. find the volume of the given solid under the plane 3x+27-z=0 and above the
region enclosed by the parabolas y=x2 and x=y 2

Formula: 𝑣 = ∬ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴

𝐷

Where in D: base of solid, z=f(x,y), (x,y)=height of the solid

Find the intersection:

𝑦 = 𝑦2 → 𝑦2 − 𝑦 = 0

𝑦(𝑦 − 1) = 0

𝑦 = 0, 𝑦 = 1
(0,0)(1,1)

𝑣 = ∬ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 𝑜𝑟 𝑣 = ∬ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦

Let’s try:
1 √𝑥 1 √𝑦

𝑎. 𝑣 = ∫ ∫ , 𝑧 = 3𝑥 = 2𝑦 → 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑏. 𝑣 = ∫ ∫ , 𝑧 = 3𝑥 = 2𝑦 → 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
0 𝑥2 0 𝑦2

1 √𝑥 1 √𝑦
= ∫ ∫ (3𝑥 + 2𝑦)𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ ∫ (3𝑥 + 2𝑦) 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦
0 𝑥2 0 𝑦2
1
√𝑥 1
√𝑦
= ∫ ∫(3𝑥𝑦) + 𝑦 2 | 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ ∫(3𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 ) | 𝑑𝑦
0 𝑥2 0 𝑦2
1
3 1
= ∫(3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3𝑥 3 − 𝑥 4 ) 𝑑𝑥 1
= ∫(3𝑥 2 + 𝑦 − 3𝑦 3 + 𝑦 4 )𝑑𝑦
0
0
6 5 1 2 3 2 1 5 1 1
= 𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 | 6 5 𝑦 2 3𝑦 4 𝑦 5
5 2 4 5 = 𝑦2 + − + |
0 5 2 4 5
0
6 1 3 1
= ( + − − ) − (0) 6 1 3 1
5 2 4 5 = ( + − − ) − (0)
5 2 4 5
3
= 3
4 =
4

2
Example 2. Find the volume of the plane bounded by 3x+2y+z=12 where in z=0, y=-2,
y=3, x=0, x=1

𝑑𝑉 = 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑍
The first step is to rewrite the equation of the plane in terms of z. So, to get the
value of Z, we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. Starting with the equation:
3x+2y+z=12, we can subtract 3x and 2y from both sides: z= 12-3x-2y. Therefore, the value
of z is 12-3x-2y.

Formula: 3 1 3 1
𝑉 = ∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑉 = ∫ ∫ (12 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦) 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦
−2 0 −2 0

3
3𝑥 2 1
= ∫ [12𝑥 − − 2𝑦𝑥] 𝑑𝑦
−2 2
0
3
3(1)2
= ∫ 12(1) − − 2𝑦(1) 𝑑𝑦
−2 2

2𝑦 2 3
= [10.5𝑦 − ]
2
−2
= [10.5(3) − 32 ] − [10.5(−2) − −22 ]

= 31.5 − 9 − (−21 − 4)

= 31.5 − 9 + 21 + 4
= 47.5

∴volume of the plane bounded by 3x+2y+z=12 where in z=0, y=-2, y=3, x=0, x=1 is 47.5

example 3. Find the volume of the plane bounded by 3x+2y+z=12, x=0, y=0, z=0

3
Formula:

𝒗 = ∬ 𝒅𝒗 = ∬(𝟏𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚) 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦

Since were going to integrate the y direction first, reverse the dxdy to dydx.

4 𝑦

𝑣 = ∬ 𝑑𝑣 = ∫ ∫(12 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦)𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0 0
3
4 −−2𝑥+6

= ∬ 𝑑𝑣 = ∫ ∫ (12 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦)𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0 0

4 3
2𝑦 2 − 2 𝑥 + 6
= ∫ ∫ 12𝑦 − 3𝑥𝑦 − |
2
0
0
4 2
3 3 3
= ∫ 12 (− 𝑥 + 6) − 3𝑥) − 3𝑥 (− 𝑥 + 6) − (− 𝑥 + 6) 𝑑𝑥
0 2 2 2
4
9 9
= ∫ −18𝑥 + 72 + 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 + 18𝑥 − 36 𝑑𝑥
0 2 4
9 3 4
18𝑥 2 4 𝑥
=− + + 36𝑥 |
2 3
0
18(4)2 3
= + (4)3 + 36(4)
2 4
−288
= + 48 + 144
2
= −144 + 48 + 144

of 48
∴volume = the plane bounded by 3x+2y+z=12, x=0, y=0, z=0 is 48.

4
Surface Area w/ Double Integrals

Suppose 𝑆 is a surface with equation 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) above the 𝑥𝑦-plane with

region 𝑅, where 𝐹 has continuous partial derivatives.

Then if we divide 𝑅 into 𝑛 rectangular subregions, which have corresponding

regions on the surface, we create an infinite number of tangent planes or tangent
parallelograms to the surface.

And if we determine the area of these 𝑛 number of tangent planes, the total
surface area is the sum of all of these tiny tangent plane areas. Thus, the area of the
surface 𝑆 with equation 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)with continuous partial derivatives is:

2
𝐴(𝑆) = ∬ √1 + (𝑓𝑥 )2 + (𝑓𝑦 ) 𝑑𝐴
𝑅

note: as done before, we think of “∬𝑅 𝑑𝑆" as meaning "sum up lots of little
surface areas over 𝑅.''

Example 4. Determine the surface area of the plane 𝑆 given by 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 9 + 𝑥 + 2𝑦 over
the rectangle 𝑅 = {(𝑥, 𝑦): 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3,0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2}

Projection Surface Area Plane

First, we will calculate our first partial derivatives.

𝝏𝒇 𝝏𝒇
= 𝒇𝒙 = 𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 = 𝒇𝒚 = 𝟐
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
Next, we will substitute our partials into our surface area for double integrals formula
and solve.

𝐴(𝑆) = ∬ √1 + (𝑓𝑥 )2 + (𝑓𝑥 )2 𝑑𝐴

𝑅
3 2
𝐴(𝑆) = ∫ ∫ √1 + (1)2 + (2)2 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
0 0
3 2
= ∫ ∫ (√6)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
0 0

5
 3 2
= ∫ √6𝑦 | 𝑑𝑥
0 0
3 3
= ∫ 2√6𝑑𝑥 = 2√6𝑥 | = 6√6
0 0
Example 5. Finding the surface area of the of a plane over a triangle

Find the surface area of 𝑓 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑅 Let 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 4 − 𝑥 − 2𝑦 and let 𝑅 be the region in the
𝑥
plane bounded by 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 2 − .
2

We start by noting that 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦) = −1and 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦) = −2. To define 𝑅, we use bounds 0 ≤
𝑥
𝑦 ≤ 2 − and 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4. Therefore:
2

= ∬ 𝑑𝑆
𝑅
𝑥
4 2−2
=∫ ∫ √1 + (−1)2 + (−2)2 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
0 0
4
𝑥
= ∫ √6 (2 − ) 𝑑𝑥
0 2

= 4√6

AREA

Recall from first year calculus, if the region R is bounded below by 𝑦 = 𝑔1 (𝑥) and above
by 𝑦 = 𝑔2 (𝑥), and 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏, the area is given by
𝑏
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ [𝑔2 (𝑥) − 𝑔1 (𝑥)] 𝑑𝑥
𝑎

There is another way of achieving this expression. If we let the integrand by 1 then the
double integral over the region R is
𝑏 𝑔2 (𝑥) 𝑏 𝑏
𝑔 (𝑥)
∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 = ∫ [𝑦]𝑔12(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ [𝑔2 (𝑥) − 𝑔1 (𝑥)] 𝑑𝑥
𝑎 𝑔1 (𝑥) 𝑎 𝑎

6
This gives us another way to find area.

Theorem. If a region R is bounded below by 𝑦 = 𝑔1 (𝑥) and above by 𝑦 = 𝑔2 (𝑥), and 𝑎 ≤

𝑥 ≤ 𝑏, the area is given by
𝑏 𝑔2 (𝑥)
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑎 𝑔1 (𝑥)

Example 1. Set up the double integral that gives the area between 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 .

Solution. Set up the double integral.

1 𝑥2
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
0 𝑥3
1
𝑥2
= ∫ 𝑦 | 3 𝑑𝑥
0 𝑥
1
= ∫ 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥
0

𝑥3 𝑥4 1
= − |
3 4 0
13 14 03 04
=( − )−( − )
3 4 3 4
1 1
= −
3 4
𝟏
=
𝟏𝟐

Example 2. Look at a rectangle of length 4 and width 2 in the x-y plane. We can bound
this rectangle using the lines 𝑥 = 2, 𝑥 = 6, 𝑦 = 1 and y = 3. Find the area using a double
integral.

Solution. Set up the double integral.

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∬ 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦

3 6
= ∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦
1 2

The inner integral:

6
6
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 | = 6 − 2 = 𝟒
2 2

The double integral now becomes this:

7
 3 6
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦
1 2
3
= ∫ 4𝑑𝑦
1

3
= 4𝑦 |
1
= 4(3 − 1) = 4(2) = 𝟖
Example 3. Use the double integral to find the area bounded by the graph of 𝑦 =
3𝑥 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 3.

Solution. Set up the double integral.

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∬ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥

1 3
= ∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
−1 3𝑥 2
1
3
= ∫ 𝑦| 𝑑𝑥
−1 3𝑥 2
1
= ∫ (3 − 3𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥
−1

1
= 3𝑥 − 𝑥 3 |
−1
= [3(1) − (1)3 ] − [3(−1) − (−1)3 ]
= (3 − 1) − (−3 + 1)

=𝟒
Example 4. Splitting the bounds. Use a double integral to find the area of the region
bounded by 𝑦 = 4 − 𝑥 2 and above both lines 𝑦 = 3𝑥 and 𝑦 = 0.

Solution. Set up the double integral.

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∬ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 + ∬ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥

0 4−𝑥 2 1 4−𝑥 2
=∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 + ∫ ∫ 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
−2 0 0 3𝑥
0 1
4 − 𝑥2 4 − 𝑥2
= ∫ 𝑦| 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑦 | 𝑑𝑥
−2 0 0 3𝑥
0 1
= ∫ (4 − 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥 + ∫ (4 − 𝑥 − 3𝑥)𝑑𝑥
−2 0

𝑥3 0 𝑥 3 3𝑥 2 1
= [4𝑥 − | ] + [4𝑥 − − | ]
3 −2 3 2 0

8
 03 −23 13 3(1)2 13 3(1)2
= [(4(0) − ) − (4(−2) − )] + [(4(1) − − ) − (4(1) − − )]
3 3 3 2 3 2
−8 1 3
= [0 − (4(−2) − )] + [(4(1) − − ) − 0]
3 3 2
8 1
= (8 − ) + (4 − )
3 3
16 13
= +
3 6
𝟏𝟓
=
𝟐
MASS

Suppose a 2-D region 𝑅 has density 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) at each point (𝑥, 𝑦) , We can partition
𝑅 into sub-rectangles, with 𝑚 of them int the 𝑥 − 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, and 𝑛 in the 𝑦 − 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.
Suppose each sub-rectangle has width ∆𝑥 and height ∆𝑦. Then a sub-rectangle containing
the point (𝑥̂, 𝑦̂) has approximate mass

𝜌(𝑥̂, 𝑦̂)∆𝑥∆𝑦.
and the mass of R is approximately
𝑚 𝑛

∑ ∑ 𝜌(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )∆𝑥∆𝑦
𝑖=1 𝑗=1

where (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) is a point in the i, j-the subrectangle. Letting m and n go to infinity, we

have

𝑀 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑅 = ∬ 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴.

𝑅

Similarly, the moment with respect to the x-axis can be calculated as

𝑀𝑥 = ∬ 𝑦𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴
𝑅

and the moment with respect to the y-axis can be calculated as

𝑀𝑥 = ∬ 𝑥𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴.
𝑅

Then we may calculate the center of mass of R via

𝑀𝑦 𝑀𝑥
𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑅 = (𝑥̅ , ̅̅̅
𝑦) = ( , ).
𝑀 𝑀

9
 2
Example 4. Find the mass and the center of mass of the lamina bounded by 𝑦 = , 𝑦 = 0,
𝑥

𝑥 = 1, 𝑥 = 2 with density 𝜌 = 𝑘𝑥 2 .

Solution. Set up the double integral. First, calculate the mass.

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 = ∬ 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴

𝑅
2
2 𝑋
= ∫ ∫ 𝑘𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
1 0

2 2
=∫ 𝑘𝑥 2 𝑦 |𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1 0

2
2
= ∫ 𝑘𝑥 2 ( ) 𝑑𝑥
1 𝑥
2
= ∫ 𝑘(2)(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
1
2
= ∫ 2𝑘𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1

2
= 2𝑘𝑥 |
1
2𝑘𝑥 2 2 2
= | = 𝑘𝑥 2 |
2 1 1
= [𝑘(2)2 − 𝑘(1)2 ]

= 4𝑘 − 𝑘

= 𝟑𝒌
Calculate the moment with respect to the x-axis.

𝑀𝑥 = ∬ 𝑦𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴
𝑅
2
2 𝑥
= ∫ ∫ 𝑘𝑥 2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
1 0

2 2
𝑦2 𝑥
=∫ 𝑘𝑥 2 | 𝑑𝑥
1 2 0

2 2
2( )
= ∫ 𝑘𝑥 2 ( 𝑥 )
1 2

10
 2
22
2
= ∫ 𝑘𝑥 2 ( 𝑥 )
1 2

2
4
2
=∫ 𝑘𝑥 2 ( 𝑥 ) → 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑙 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑥 2
1 2

2
4
= ∫ 𝑘( )
1 2

= 𝟐𝒌
Calculate the moment with respect to the y-axis.

𝑀𝑥 = ∬ 𝑥𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴.
𝑅
2
2 𝑥
= ∫ ∫ 𝑥(𝑘𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
1 0
2
2
𝑥
= ∫ ∫ 𝑘𝑥 3 𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
1 0

2 2
=∫ 𝑘𝑥 3 𝑦 |𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1 0

2
2
= ∫ 𝑘𝑥 3 ( ) 𝑑𝑥
1 𝑥
2
= ∫ 2𝑘𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥
1

2𝑘𝑥 3 2
= |
3 1
2𝑘(2)3 2𝑘(1)3
=[ ]−[ ]
3 3

2𝑘(8) 2𝑘(1)
=[ ]−[ ]
3 3
16𝑘 2𝑘
= −
3 3
𝟏𝟒𝒌
=
𝟑

Calculate the center of mass.

𝑀𝑦 𝑀𝑥
̅̅̅ = (
𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 = (𝑥̅ , 𝑦) , )
𝑀 𝑀

11
 14𝑘
2𝑘
=( 3 , )
3𝑘 3𝑘

𝟏𝟒 𝟐
=( , )
𝟗 𝟑
Example 5. Find the mass of the region bounded by 𝑦 = 8 − 𝑥, the x-axis, and y-axis
with the density function 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 5𝑥𝑦.

Solution: Set up the double integral.

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 = ∬ 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝐴

𝑅
8 8−𝑥
=∫ ∫ 5𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
0 0
8
𝑦2 8 − 𝑥
= ∫ 5𝑥 | 𝑑𝑥
0 2 0
8
5 2 8−𝑥
=∫ 𝑥𝑦 | 𝑑𝑥
0 2 0
8
5
=∫ 𝑥[(8 − 𝑥)2 ]𝑑𝑥
0 2
8
5
=∫ 𝑥(64 − 16𝑥 + 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥
0 2
8
5
= ∫ (160𝑥 − 40𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 ) 𝑑𝑥
0 2

160𝑥 2 40𝑥 2 5 𝑥 4 8
= − + |
2 3 2 4 0
40𝑥 3 5 4 8
= 80𝑥 2 − + 𝑥 |
3 8 0
40 5
= [80(8)2 − (8)3 + (8)4 ]
3 8
20480
= 5120 − + 2560
3
𝟐𝟓𝟔𝟎
= 𝒐𝒓 𝟖𝟓𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝟑
𝟑

12
 Activity 1

Name: _______________________ Date: _________ Score: ______

Direction: Using the application of double integral, calculate the following:

1. Find the volume of the solid that is below the surface𝑧 = 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 over the region
on the plane 𝑧 = 0 bounded by the curves x=0, y=0 and x+2y=4.
2. Find the volume of the solid bounded below by the plane z=0 and above by the
paraboloid z=25-x2-y2.
3. Find the area of a region bounded by a parabola 𝑥 = 𝑦 2 and the line y=1.
4. Find the area of the region bounded below the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 and above by the line
y=2x in the first quadrant.
5. Find the mass and the centas of mass of the region that is bounded by the line
y=2x and the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 if the density function is 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥

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References
Michel van Biezen. (2014, May 29). Calculus - integration: double integrals (7 of 9) Example
6: finding the volume [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqWW8pfsPLQ

Libretexts. (2021). 13.5: surface area. Mathematics LibreTexts.

https://math.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Calculus/Calculus_3e_(Apex)/13%3A_Mu
ltiple_Integration/13.05%3A_Surface_Area

Calcworkshop. (2022, February 2). Surface Area With Double Integrals (How-To w/
Step-by-Step Examples!). https://calcworkshop.com/multiple-integrals/surface-area-
using-double-integrals/

Double integrals as volume - Math Insight. (n.d.).

https://mathinsight.org/double_integral_volume

Michel van Biezen. (2014a, May 29). Calculus - integration: double integrals (6 of 9)
Example 5: finding the volume [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jwdRYUSPqk

Math TV with Professor V. (2022b, January . Finding volumes using double integrals
[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbhITS8m4jQ

Double integrals and area. (n.d.).

https://ltcconline.net/greenl/courses/117/DoubIntProb/doubleIntegrals.htm#:~:text=Rema

rk%3A%20If%20the%20region%20if,used%20to%20find%20the%20area.&text=Set%2

0up%20the%20double%20integral,calculator%20to%20evaluate%20this%20integral.

Larry Green. (2020, November 23). Using a double integral to find area [Video].YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q1EXPqMMD0

Larry Green. (2020a, November 23). Splitting a double integral into two parts to find area

[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4D3I30jQco

Mathispower4u. (2022, January 2). Double integral application: mass of a triangular

region on the coordinate plane [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y8dJzd4FPw

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