Double Integral 27
Medium Iterated Integrals

In the double integral double integral over D z(x,y) dx

In the double integral $\iint_D z(x,y)\,dx\,dy$, convert to polar coordinates $\varphi$ and $r$ and write the limits of integration for both possible orders. The region $D$ is a rectangle with vertices $O(0,0)$, $A(1,0)$, $B(1,1)$, $C(0,1)$.

Explanation of Method

In polar coordinates a straight edge $x=1$ becomes $r=\sec\varphi$ and an edge $y=1$ becomes $r=\csc\varphi$. Because a ray from the origin hits a different edge depending on its angle relative to the diagonal $OB$ ($\varphi=\pi/4$), the region must be split into two angular pieces (or, for the reversed order, two radial pieces).

  1. Locate the vertices in polar form.
  2. Split the angular range at the diagonal $\varphi=\pi/4$.
  3. Convert each edge equation to $r(\varphi)$.
  4. Reverse the order, splitting radially at $r=1$ instead.

Step 1 · Identify the region

$D=[0,1]\times[0,1]$, the unit square.

Step 2 · Determine the polar bounds

Vertices in polar form: $O(0,0)$: $r=0$; $A(1,0)$: $r=1,\varphi=0$; $B(1,1)$: $r=\sqrt2,\varphi=\pi/4$; $C(0,1)$: $r=1,\varphi=\pi/2$. The angle sweeps the first quadrant, $0\leqslant\varphi\leqslant\pi/2$.

For $0\leqslant\varphi\leqslant\pi/4$, a ray hits the right edge $x=1$ first: $r\cos\varphi=1\Rightarrow r=\sec\varphi$.
For $\pi/4\leqslant\varphi\leqslant\pi/2$, a ray hits the top edge $y=1$ first: $r\sin\varphi=1\Rightarrow r=\csc\varphi$.

Step 3 · Order 1 — integrate $r$ first, then $\varphi$

$$ \iint_D z\,dx\,dy = \int_0^{\pi/4} d\varphi \int_0^{\sec\varphi} r\,z\,dr \ + \ \int_{\pi/4}^{\pi/2} d\varphi \int_0^{\csc\varphi} r\,z\,dr. $$

Step 4 · Order 2 — integrate $\varphi$ first, then $r$

For $0\leqslant r\leqslant1$: the circular arc of radius $r$ lies entirely inside the square, so $\varphi$ sweeps the full first quadrant, $0\leqslant\varphi\leqslant\pi/2$.
For $1<r\leqslant\sqrt2$: the arc pokes outside the square except between where it crosses $x=1$ (at $\varphi=\arccos(1/r)$) and $y=1$ (at $\varphi=\arcsin(1/r)$):

$$ \iint_D z\,dx\,dy = \int_0^{1} dr \int_0^{\pi/2} r\,z\,d\varphi \ + \ \int_1^{\sqrt2} dr \int_{\arccos(1/r)}^{\arcsin(1/r)} r\,z\,d\varphi. $$


Additional Notes

Result

The limits of integration are:

$$ \int_0^{\pi/4}\!\int_0^{\sec\varphi} r\,z\,dr\,d\varphi + \int_{\pi/4}^{\pi/2}\!\int_0^{\csc\varphi} r\,z\,dr\,d\varphi = \int_0^{1}\!\int_0^{\pi/2} r\,z\,d\varphi\,dr + \int_1^{\sqrt2}\!\int_{\arccos(1/r)}^{\arcsin(1/r)} r\,z\,d\varphi\,dr. $$