Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)

Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis

❑ Integral Region in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)
Some double integrals are easier to evaluate if the region of
integration is expressed in polar coordinates. For example, the
quarter-disk in the side-figure can be expressed by,
In Rectangular Coordinates In Polar Coordinates
𝜋
0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2, 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 4 − 𝑥 2 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 2, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤
2
𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 , 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃 ⟺ 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2

Simple Polar Regions: Graphs of 𝑟1 𝜃 and 𝑟2 (𝜃) do not cross

𝛼≤𝜃≤𝛽 𝛼≤𝜃≤𝛽 𝛼 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 𝛼 + 2𝜋
𝑟1 𝜃 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 𝑟2 (𝜃) 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 𝑟2 (𝜃) 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 𝑟2 (𝜃)
15 April 2024 Lesson 10: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinate 1
 Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Polar Rectangle
A simple polar region for which the bounding polar curves
are circular arcs. For example, as shown in side-figure,
𝜋 𝜋
≤𝜃≤ , 1.5 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 2
6 4

❑ Double Integrals In Polar Coordinates

Theorem. If 𝑅 is a simple polar region whose boundaries are the
rays 𝜃 = 𝛼 and 𝜃 = 𝛽 and the curves 𝑟 = 𝑟1 (𝜃) and 𝑟 = 𝑟2 𝜃
shown in side-figure, and if 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑟, 𝜃) is continuous on 𝑅, then
𝛽 𝑟2 (𝜃)

ඵ 𝑓(𝑟, 𝜃) 𝑑𝐴 = න න 𝑓(𝑟, 𝜃) 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃
𝑅 𝛼 𝑟1 (𝜃)
𝑦

15 April 2024 Lesson 10: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinate 2 𝑥

 Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
Example. Evaluate

ඵ sin 𝜃 𝑑𝐴
𝑅
where 𝑅 is the region in the first quadrant that is outside the circle 𝑟 = 2 and inside the
cardioid 𝑟 = 2(1 + cos 𝜃).
Solution. The region 𝑅 is sketched in the side-figure.

15 April 2024 Lesson 10: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinate 3

 Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
Example. The sphere of radius 𝑎 centered at the origin is expressed in rectangular coordinates as
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 𝑎2 , and hence its equation in cylindrical coordinates is 𝑟 2 + 𝑧 2 = 𝑎2 . Use this
equation and a polar double integral to find the volume of the sphere.
Solution. In cylindrical coordinates the upper hemisphere is given by the equation
𝑧 = 𝑎2 − 𝑟 2
so the volume enclosed by the entire sphere is

𝑉 = 2 ඵ 𝑎2 − 𝑟 2 𝑑𝐴
𝑅
where 𝑅 is the circular region shown in the side-figure. Thus,

15 April 2024 Lesson 10: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinate 4

 Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Finding Areas Using Polar Double Integrals
𝛽 𝑟2 (𝜃)

Area = ඵ 1 𝑑𝐴 = ඵ 𝑑𝐴 = න න 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃
𝑅 𝑅 𝛼 𝑟1 (𝜃)

Example. Use a polar double integral to find the area enclosed by the three-petaled rose
𝑟 = sin 3𝜃 .
Solution. As shown in the side-figure, the total area is the three times of the petal 𝑅 in the first
quadrant,

15 April 2024 Lesson 10: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinate 5

 Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Conversion of Double Integrals from Rectangular to Polar Coordinates
𝛽 𝑟2 (𝜃)

ඵ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴 = ඵ 𝑓(𝑟 cos 𝜃 , 𝑟 sin 𝜃) 𝑑𝐴 = න න 𝑓(𝑟 cos 𝜃 , 𝑟 sin 𝜃) 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃

𝑅 𝑅 𝛼 𝑟1 (𝜃)

Example. Use a polar coordinates to evaluate

1 1−𝑥 2
3
න න 𝑥2 + 2
𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
−1 0
Solution. Before we can make the conversion to polar coordinates we will have to identify the
region of integration in rectangular coordinates and then identify the corresponding region in
polar coordinates.

𝑟=1

𝜃=𝜋 𝜃=0

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 Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
H.W. Exercise Set 14.3 23–26 Use polar coordinates to evaluate the double
integral.

15 April 2024 Lesson 10: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinate 7

 Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates (𝒓, 𝜽)
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
H.W. Exercise Set 14.3
27–34 Evaluate the iterated integral by converting to polar coordinates.

15 April 2024 Lesson 10: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinate 8