Review: Double Integrals over Rectangular Regions
Last time we studied \(\displaystyle \iint_R f(x,y)\,dA\), where \(\displaystyle R\) is a rectangular region \(\displaystyle R = [a, b] \times [c, d]\).
Diagram Description: A rectangular region \(\displaystyle R\) is shown in the \(\displaystyle xy\)-plane. The rectangle has corners at \(\displaystyle (a, c)\), \(\displaystyle (b, c)\), \(\displaystyle (b, d)\), and \(\displaystyle (a, d)\). A vertical green line at a fixed \(\displaystyle x\)-value shows a cross-section from \(\displaystyle y = c\) to \(\displaystyle y = d\), illustrating integration with respect to \(\displaystyle y\) first. A horizontal blue line at a fixed \(\displaystyle y\)-value shows a cross-section from \(\displaystyle x = a\) to \(\displaystyle x = b\), illustrating integration with respect to \(\displaystyle x\) first.
There are two ways to evaluate this integral using iterated integrals:
Method 1: Fix \(\displaystyle x\), integrate with respect to \(\displaystyle y\) first on \(\displaystyle c \leq y \leq d\):
\[\iint_R f(x,y)\,dA = \int_a^b \int_c^d f(x,y)\,dy\,dx\]
Method 2: Fix \(\displaystyle y\), integrate with respect to \(\displaystyle x\) first on \(\displaystyle a \leq x \leq b\):
\[\iint_R f(x,y)\,dA = \int_c^d \int_a^b f(x,y)\,dx\,dy\]
Type I Regions (Top and Bottom Curve)
Definition: A Type I region is a region \(\displaystyle D\) in the \(\displaystyle xy\)-plane that lies between two continuous curves \(\displaystyle y = g_1(x)\) (bottom) and \(\displaystyle y = g_2(x)\) (top), for \(\displaystyle a \leq x \leq b\):
\[D = \{(x, y) \mid a \leq x \leq b,\; g_1(x) \leq y \leq g_2(x)\}\]
Diagram Description: Three examples of Type I regions are shown. In each case, the region is bounded above by a curve \(\displaystyle y = g_2(x)\) and below by a curve \(\displaystyle y = g_1(x)\), with vertical boundaries at \(\displaystyle x = a\) and \(\displaystyle x = b\). Green vertical lines at various \(\displaystyle x\)-values show cross-sections from the bottom curve to the top curve. The first example shows a region with smooth concave curves, the second shows an irregular region where the curves dip and rise, and the third shows a region where the boundary has more complex oscillating shapes. In all cases, every vertical line between \(\displaystyle x = a\) and \(\displaystyle x = b\) enters the region through the bottom curve and exits through the top curve.
To evaluate the double integral over a Type I region, fix \(\displaystyle x\) and integrate with respect to \(\displaystyle y\) on \(\displaystyle g_1(x) \leq y \leq g_2(x)\), then integrate with respect to \(\displaystyle x\) on \(\displaystyle a \leq x \leq b\):
Theorem (Double Integral over Type I Region):
\[\iint_D f(x,y)\,dA = \int_a^b \int_{g_1(x)}^{g_2(x)} f(x,y)\,dy\,dx\]
Type II Regions (Right and Left Curve)
Definition: A Type II region is a region \(\displaystyle D\) in the \(\displaystyle xy\)-plane that lies between two continuous curves \(\displaystyle x = g_1(y)\) (left) and \(\displaystyle x = g_2(y)\) (right), for \(\displaystyle c \leq y \leq d\):
\[D = \{(x, y) \mid c \leq y \leq d,\; g_1(y) \leq x \leq g_2(y)\}\]
Diagram Description: Three examples of Type II regions are shown. In each case, the region is bounded on the left by a curve \(\displaystyle x = g_1(y)\) and on the right by a curve \(\displaystyle x = g_2(y)\), with horizontal boundaries at \(\displaystyle y = c\) and \(\displaystyle y = d\). Blue horizontal lines at various \(\displaystyle y\)-values show cross-sections from the left curve to the right curve. The first example shows an hourglass-shaped region with diagonal hatching, the second shows a figure-eight-like region, and the third shows a twisted region. In all cases, every horizontal line between \(\displaystyle y = c\) and \(\displaystyle y = d\) enters the region through the left curve and exits through the right curve.
To evaluate the double integral over a Type II region, fix \(\displaystyle y\) and integrate with respect to \(\displaystyle x\) first on \(\displaystyle g_1(y) \leq x \leq g_2(y)\), then integrate with respect to \(\displaystyle y\) on \(\displaystyle c \leq y \leq d\):
Theorem (Double Integral over Type II Region):
\[\iint_D f(x,y)\,dA = \int_c^d \int_{g_1(y)}^{g_2(y)} f(x,y)\,dx\,dy\]