C

27

Applying the Denite Integral:

Slice and Conquer

27.1 FINDING MASS WHEN DENSITY VARIES

Up to this point weve used the denite integral to
nd the signed area under the graph of f and
nd the net change in amount when given a rate function.
In this chapter we will see how the idea of slicing that led us to the limit denition
of the denite integral can help us apply our knowledge about denite integrals to other
situations.

N EXAMPLE 27.1
SOLUTION

A geologist is working with a rectangular block-shaped chunk of sedimentary rock whose

height is 3 meters, width is 4 meters, and length is 7 meters. A certain mineral is uniformly
distributed throughout the rock sample with a density of 5 milligrams per cubic meter. How
many milligrams of the mineral are in the sample?
To calculate the number of milligrams given the density we simply multiply volume by
density. The volume of the rock is length width height = (7 m) (4 m) (3 m) = 84 m3.
Therefore,
number of grams of the mineral = 84 m3 5

mg
= 420 mg.
m3

Notice that the units of volume cancel to leave an answer in milligrams.

N EXAMPLE 27.2

The geologist is now looking at another mineral in the same sedimentary rock sample. This
mineral had begun to settle as the rock was being formed, so its density varies with depth.
The density is given by (h) = 1 + 0.1h2 milligrams per cubic meter, where h is the depth
827

828

CHAPTER 27

Applying the Denite Integral: Slice and Conquer

below the top surface of the sample.1 Notice that as the depth h increases, so does the density
of the mineral in the rock sample. We want to nd the number of milligrams of this mineral
in the sample.
SOLUTION

Compare this problem to the rst one. The difculty is that the density is not constant; it
varies from (0) = 1 mg/m3 at the top of the sample to (3) = 1.9 mg/m3 at the bottom. If
we were to multiply the total volume of the rock sample by (0), we would get 84 mg; if we
were to multiply the total volume of the rock sample by (3), we would get 159.6 mg. The
former number is much too small and the latter is much too big. The actual number of grams
of the mineral must be somewhere between these two extremes. How can we improve upon
our under- and overestimates?
At any xed depth the density is constant. Suppose we divide the sample into horizontal
slabs, slices in which the density doesnt vary much. In each slice we can approximate the
number of milligrams of the mineral; well add up the estimates in each slice to approximate
the total number of milligrams. The ner the slices, the less the density will vary within a
slice and the better our approximation will be.
Notice that this strategy is the same one we successfully applied to the problem of
nding the area under a curve. In the area problem our dilemma was that the function f
varied with x over the x-interval [a, b]. To deal with this we chopped the interval [a, b]
into n equal pieces, on each piece approximated the function by a constant, used that to
approximate the area on the subinterval, and summed these areas. We found the area under
the curve by letting the number of subintervals grow without bound. Here our dilemma
is that the density varies with h, so well partition the h-interval [0, 3] into pieces, thereby
partitioning the rock sample into thin horizontal slabs in which density doesnt vary greatly.

Approximating the Number of Milligrams of Mineral in the Sample

Suppose we divide the h-interval [0, 3] into six equal subintervals. Using the notation we
developed for Riemann sums, these are [h0, h1] through [h5, h6], where the height of each
subinterval is h = 0.5 m and hi = ih for i = 0, 1, . . . , 6. This chops the entire rock
sample into six slabs, each of which has height 1/2 meter, width 4 meters, and length 7
meters, as shown in Figure 27.1.
h0 = 0
h1 = .5
h2 = 1
h3 = 1.5
h4 = 2
h5 = 2.5
h6 = 3

h = 0.5 m {

3m

h0 = 0
h1 = .5
h2 = 1
h3 = 1.5
h4 = 2
h5 = 2.5
h6 = 3

7m
4m

Figure 27.1

We can estimate the number of milligrams of mineral in each slice. For example, in the
top slice, the density varies from (0) = 1 + 0.1(0)2 = 1 mg/m3 at the top surface to
(0.5) = 1 + 0.1(0.5)2 = 1.025 mg/m3 at the bottom surface. The volume of the slice is
1 The

Greek letter , pronounced rho, is often used in the sciences to represent density.

27.1

Finding Mass When Density Varies

829

(4 m)(7 m)(h m) = (4)(7)(0.5) m3 = 14 m3. The density increases with h, so we have the
following estimates for the number of milligrams of mineral in this top slice.
mg
14 m3 = 14 mg
m3
mg
overestimate: (0.5) (volume of slice) = 1.025 3 14 m3 = 14.35 mg
m

underestimate: (0) (volume of slice) = 1

We follow the same procedure for each of the ve other slices. Then, by adding all
the underestimates for the separate slices, we obtain an underestimate for the total number
of milligrams in the sample. Similarly, adding the overestimates on all six slices gives an
overestimate for the total.
underestimate =

5


(hi ) [28 h]

i=0

5


(1 + 0.1h2i ) [28 h]

i=0

= 103.25 mg
overestimate =

6


(hi ) [28 h]

i=1

6


(1 + 0.1h21) [28 h]

i=1

= 115.85 mg
Notice that our method of slicing horizontally along the axis of the independent variable
h ensured that the density would not vary as much within each slice as it had in the rock
sample as a whole; this is what brought our estimates closer together. To slice vertically
would have defeated the purpose of slicing, because the density in each slice would still
have varied between (0) and (3), the same variance as in the entire rock sample.
KEY NOTION The choice of how to slice is at the heart of this kind of problem. This choice
is determined by the density function. In this case, the density varies with height, so we
need to slice in a way that keeps the height (and hence the density) approximately constant
within each slice.

Computing the Exact Number of Milligrams in the Sample

We can improve upon our estimates by partitioning the h-interval [0, 3] into ner and ner
subintervals; this corresponds to cutting thinner and thinner horizontal slabs of the rock
sample. As we let the number of subintervals grow without bound, we expect the difference
between the overestimates and the underestimates to tend toward zero, just as it did in the
area problem.
Chop the h-interval [0, 3] into n equal subintervals each of height h = n3 m and label
h0, h1, h2, . . . , hn as shown. hi = (i) n3 for i = 0, 1, . . . , n. This corresponds to slicing the
rock sample horizontally into n slabs, each 7 meters long by 4 meters wide by h meters
tall; the volume of each slice is (area) (thickness) = 28h m3.

830

CHAPTER 27

Applying the Denite Integral: Slice and Conquer

ha

7
4

hi
hn

Figure 27.2

Lets look at a generic slice, say the ith slice.


 

the # of mg
estimate of density of

(volume of the slice)

in the ith slice
the mineral in the slice
mg
(using (hi ) gives an overestimate)
(hi ) 3 (28h m3)
m
(hi ) 28h mg
Thus, we obtain the following sums to estimate the total number of milligrams of the mineral
in the sample.
underestimate =

n1


(hi ) [28 h] =

i=0

overestimate =

n


n1


28(hi ) h

i=0

(hi ) [28 h] =

i=1

n


28(hi ) h

i=1

These sums are Riemann sums. The difference between the overestimate and the underestimate
 is 28[(hn) (h0)] h. This can be written as 28[(3) (0)] h or
28(0.9) n3 = 75.6
n . As n grows without bound this difference tends toward zero; the limit
3
of the Riemann sums is the denite integral 0 (h) 28 dh.
We now calculate.
number of milligrams in sample = lim


=


n


i=1

(h) 28 dh

(hi ) [28 h] (= lim

n1


(hi ) [28 h])

i=0

(Both sums approach the

value of the integral.)

(1 + 0.1h2) 28 dh


h3 3
= 28 h + 0.1
3 0


= 28 (3 + 0.9) (0)
= 109.2 mg
The strategy of slicing, approximating, summing, and then taking a limit of the sum
allowed us to arrive at an exact answer. N

27.1

Finding Mass When Density Varies

831

Observe the following.

We did not simply integrate (h). There was a 28 in the integrand as well. Lets parse
the integral.
We are summing
(h)

28

dh
from h = 0 to h = 3,
corresponding to


density
(area of slice) (thickness of slice)
in mg/vol.
or
(density in mg/vol.) volume of a slice.
The limits of integration, while not explicit in the summation notation of the Riemann
sum, are implicitly there. As n , h1 0 and hn1 3. The limits of integration
are always determined by the endpoints of the interval being chopped up.

In order to nd mass, we need to multiply density by area. Density is not constant, so we

will need to use a slicing approach to break the problem down into regions where the density
is approximately constant.
KEY NOTION Just as in Example 27.2, we must slice in a way that keeps the density
approximately constant within each slice. In this case density depends on r, the distance
from the center of impact. Accordingly, we subdivide the r-interval [0, 10] into n equal
subintervals each of length 10
n = r m; we label r0 , r1 , r2 , . . . , rn as shown. The slices that
result from this are concentric circular rings. Unlike in the rock sample example, in this
situation the area of the slices varies.

ri
0 r1 r2 r 3

10

rn1 10
=

SOLUTION

When a meteorite crashes into the earth, debris is scattered nearby. Suppose that the density
1
of debris is modeled by (r) = 1+r
2 kilograms per square meter, where r is the number of
meters from the center of the meteorites impact. What is the mass of the debris that lies
within 10 meters of the center of impact?

N EXAMPLE 27.3

r0

rn

ri r
r

Figure 27.3

The mass in the ith ring (the approximate density in the ring) (the area of the ith ring).
What is the area of the ith ring?
Intuitive Approach Think of the ith ring as made of yarn. If the ring is thin enough, its
inner and outer circumferences are approximately equal. To approximate the area, clip the
yarn and unbend it, laying it out as a long narrow rectangle. The length of the rectangle is

832

CHAPTER 27

Applying the Denite Integral: Slice and Conquer

approximately the circumference of the ring and the width is r . The area of the ring is
approximately the area of the rectangle, which is approximately 2ri r.

r
2ri

Figure 27.4

Alternative Approach
The ith ring has an outer radius of ri and an inner radius of ri r. We can compute the
area of this ring by subtracting the area of a disk of radius (ri r) from the area of a disk
of radius ri .
area of ith ring = area of larger disk area of smaller disk
= ri2 (ri r)2


= ri2 (ri2 2ri r + (r)2)


= 2ri r (r)2
We will be constructing a Riemann sum and then taking the limit as the thickness of
each slice (r) approaches zero. When r is very small, (r)2 is much smaller still.
(Consider for instance that if r = 0.001, then (r)2 = 0.000001.) In the limit the (r)2
term is insignicant when compared2 with rr. We use the approximation: area of slice
2 ri r.
In Exercise 27.1 you will show that approximating the area of the ith ring in this way
is valid by arriving at the same integral (using a different labeling system) without making
any approximation in the area of the ith slice.
Now we estimate the mass of the meteorite debris that lies in each ring-shaped slice.
the mass contained in the ith slice (area of slice)(approximate density in slice)


1
kg
2
(2ri r) m
1 + ri2 m2

2ri r
kg
1 + ri2

The total mass contained within 10 meters of the center can be approximated by summing
the mass lying in the individual slices; well use a right-hand sum.
n

2ri
r
n
1 + ri2
i=1

total mass lim

To get the exact mass, let n grow without bound. In the limit the Riemann sum becomes a
denite integral in which the limits of integration are the endpoints of the r-interval being
chopped up.
2 This

is the same line of reasoning we used in our discussion of the Product Rule.

27.1

Finding Mass When Density Varies

833

n

2ri
r
n
1
+ ri2
i=1
 10
2r
=
dr
1
+ r2
0
 10
2r dr
=
Substitute u = 1 + r 2, so du = 2r dr.
1 + r2
0
 r=10
du
=
u
r=0
r=10


= ln u 

total mass = lim

r=0

r=10

= ln(1 + r )
r=0


= ln 101 ln 1
2

= ln 101
14.50 kg

In this exercise you will verify that the approximation we made in Example 27.3 when
looking at the area of the ith ring is valid. Partition the r-interval [0, R] into n equal
subintervals each of length r = Rn centimeters. In this exercise, let ri be the midpoint
of the ith interval, i = 1, . . . , n. That is, r1 = 21 r, r2 = r1 + r, r3 = r1 + 2r, an so on,
as shown in Figure 27.5.
1
ri = r + (i 1)r for i = 1, 2, . . . , n
2
The ith ring has an outer radius of ri + 21 r and an inner radius of ri 21 r.
ri + 12 r
0 r1
=

EXERCISE 27.1

1
2

r2

r3

r4 . . . rn R

r
ri
ri 12 r

Figure 27.5

(a) Show that the area of the ith ring is exactly 2ri r.
(b) Conclude that the mass of the debris described in Example 27.3 is given by
 10
0 (r)2r dr.
The solution is given at the end of the section.

834

CHAPTER 27

Applying the Denite Integral: Slice and Conquer

EXERCISE 27.2

A potter is using a spray gun to apply a cobalt glaze to a plate of radius R centimeters.3 The
density of glaze varies with r, the distance from the center of the plate, and is given by (r)
mg/cm2. Write an expression that gives the amount of glaze on the plate.
The answer is given at the end of the section.

N EXAMPLE 27.4

A farmer plants a crop of wheat on a circular plot with radius 80 meters. A straight irrigation
pipe 160 meters long runs down the center of the plot. Due to a drought, his yield varies
with x, the distance from the irrigation pipe. Suppose his yield at a distance x from the pipe
is given by (x) kg/m2. What is the farmers yield from the whole plot?

SOLUTION
KEY NOTION We need to slice this disk so that (x) is approximately constant within each
slice. Since the density of yield varies with x, the distance from the irrigation pipe, we need
to keep x approximately constant within each slice. This means that we need to slice into
long, thin strips, as shown in Figure 27.6.

80
80

1
2

xi

xi
irrigation pipe

Figure 27.6

We can nd the number of kilograms yield on one side of the pipe and double it to get
the total yield. Well assume for the sake of our model that the irrigation pipe itself has no
thickness.
 


the approximate density of
the approximate area
yield in the ith strip

yield in the strip

of the strip
(xi ) i x where i is the length of the ith strip.
This expression looks a bit different from the ones we have seen above because it has
two variables in it. The x indicates that we will eventually integrate with respect to x.
Therefore, we need to express i in terms of xi . From Figure 27.6 we see that 80, xi , and
1
2 i , can be related using the Pythagorean Theorem. Well leave the completion of this
problem for you as an exercise. N

EXERCISE 27.3

Observe: Although the regions in Examples 27.3 and 27.4 are both circles, the shapes of the
slices are different. The choice of how to slice is determined by the variable of the density
function, not by the shape of the overall region.

 80
Show that the crop yield described in Example 27.4 is given by 4 0 (x) 6400 x 2 dx.
If you are off by a factor of 2, be sure that youve looked at the whole eld, not just half or
a quarter of the eld.
3 Cobalt

turns blue when red. The shade of blue varies with the density of the application of cobalt.

27.1

Finding Mass When Density Varies

835

The method of slicing allows us to calculate total mass in many different situations
where the density is not constant. It is an example of the approach we have used repeatedly.
To tackle a problem we start with a simpler situation and apply the strategy used there to
approximate the quantity we are looking for. We construct a generic approximation and
use a limiting process to arrive at an exact answer.
Divide and ConquerSlicing Strategy

1. Determine the independent variablethe variable upon which the density depends.
2. Chop along the axis of this independent variable in order to keep density approximately
constant within each slice. The endpoints of the interval you chop will determine the
limits of integration.
3. Determine the shape and then the volume/area/length of a generic ith slice; this may
vary with i.
4. Approximate the mass of each slice by multiplying volume/area/length by density.4
5. Write a Riemann sum by adding up the masses of the individual slices. There should
be only one variable in this sum; the variable should be the same one determined in
step 1.
6. Take the limit as the number of slices increases without bound in order to obtain a
denite integral.
7. Evaluate the integral.
Common Errors of the NoviceTry to Avoid Them

The biggest calamity is to have sliced incorrectly. After establishing a way of slicing,
check carefully to make sure that the density does not change much within a slice.
Alternatively, to get the slices to begin with, x the independent variable in the
density formula. This gives you a cut. Change the independent variable an iota (a very
small amount); this gives you another cut. Youve just carved out a slice for yourself.
Suppose, as in Example 27.2, that the relevant interval of the independent variable is
[0, 3]. Beginners often have an intense desire to see the limits of integration appear
explicitly in their Riemann sum. Thus, a typical error in writing the Riemann sum is to

write 3i=0. When you write this you are summing up exactly four terms; to be useful
to you in arriving at an exact answer, your Riemann sum should have n terms.

But the biggest logical problem is what comes next. Writing limn 3i=0 doesnt
3
make sense since there is no n in sight. The alternative, lim3 i=0, is nonsense,
because 3 is a constant and therefore glued in place on the number line; the number 3
cant pack up and march off to innity.
To arrive at an exact answer youll want to write a generic Riemann sum with n
terms:
n

i=1

n1

(or, alternatively, i=0 , a generic left-hand Riemann sum with n terms), so you can
let n increase without bound.
4 The

units of the density will indicate whether to multiply by volume or area or length.

836

CHAPTER 27

Applying the Denite Integral: Slice and Conquer

Try your hand at slicing and approximating the mass of the ith slice by working through
the exercise below.

EXERCISE 27.4

Suppose the density of an object varies with height. Density = (h) grams per cubic
centimeter. Your task is to write an integral giving the total mass of the object. For each
of the objects listed, do the following.
(a) Describe a typical slice.
(b) Approximate the mass of the ith slice. Express the mass in terms of hi .
(c) Write a generic Riemann sum approximating the total mass of the object.
(d) Write an integral giving the total mass.
Object 1: A right circular cylinder of height 20 centimeters and radius 5 centimeters
Object 2: A right circular cone of height 20 centimeters and base of radius 5 centimeters
Object 3: A sphere of radius 5 centimeters

Answers
Object 1
(a) Partition [0, 20] into n equal pieces. This slices the cylinder into coin-shaped disks
of thickness h. Each disk has radius 5 and volume 25h.
(b) mass of ith disk density volume (hi ) 25h

5
5
h{

slice:
20

}h
mass (hi ) 25 h

hi

Figure 27.7

(c) total mass

n

(hi ) 25h
 20

(d) total mass = limn n0 (hi ) 25h = 0 (h)25 dh
0

Object 2
(a) Partition [0, 20] into n equal pieces. This slices the cone into approximately coinshaped disks of thickness h. The radius of each disk varies with h. (The slices are
not perfect disks, but they become increasingly disk-like as m increases.)
(b) mass of ith disk density volume (hi ) (ri )2h. We must get ri in terms
of hi .

27.1

Finding Mass When Density Varies

slice:

}h

20 hi

for h small

ri

hi

ri

hi
5

837

Figure 27.8

Using similar triangles we know that

ri
20 hi
=
20
5
so
ri =

20 hi
20 hi
1
5=
= 5 hi .
20
4
4

mass of ith slice (hi )(5 41 hi )2h


(c) total mass n0 (hi )(5 41 hi )2h
 20

(d) total mass = limn n0 (hi )(5 41 hi )2h = 0 (h)(5 41 h)2 dh
Object 3
(a) The height of the sphere is 10 centimeters. Partition [0, 10] into n equal pieces.
This slices the sphere into essentially coin-shaped disks of thickness h. The
radius of each disk varies with h. The slices are not perfect disks, but they become
increasingly disk-like as n increases.
(b) mass of ith disk density volume (hi ) (ri )2h. We must get ri in terms
of hi .

ri
i th slice:

hi

(a)

ri
5
5 hi

hi 5

hi

5
ri
hi

(b)

Notice that
(hi 5)2 = (5 hi )2,
although hi 5 5 hi.

(c)

Figure 27.9

Using the Pythagorean Theorem (see Figure 27.9, parts b and c), we know
(5 hi )2 + ri2 = 25
ri2 = 25 (5 hi )2.

838

CHAPTER 27

Applying the Denite Integral: Slice and Conquer

the mass of the ith disk (hi ) [25 (5 hi )2]h


(c) total mass n0 (hi ) [25 (5 hi )2]h

(d) total mass = limn n0 (hi ) [25 (5 hi )2]h
 10
 10
= 0 (h) [25 (5 h)2] dh = 0 (h) (10h h2) dh

Answers to Selected Exercises

Exercise 27.1
(a)





r 2
r 2
area of ith ring = ri +
ri
2
2


2



r
r 2
2
2
= ri + ri r +
ri ri r +
2
2





r 2
r 2
ri2 + ri r
= ri2 + ri r +
2
2
= (2ri r)

(b) In Example 27.3, R = 10. The amount of debris in the ith interval (ri )2ri r.

Therefore the total mass ni=1 (ri )2ri r.
 10
n
Total mass = limn i=1 (ri )2ri r = 0 (r)2r dr.
Exercise 27.2
Partition the r-interval [0, R] into n equal subintervals each of length r =
ri = ir, i = 1, . . . , n.
The amount of glaze in the ith ring (ri ) 2ri r.

Therefore, the total amount of glaze ni=1 (ri )2ri r.
R

Total amount of glaze = limn ni=1 (ri )2ri r = 0 (r)2r dr.

R
n.

Let

PROBLEMS FOR SECTION 27.1

1. A cylinder 80 centimeters tall with a 10-centimeter radius is lled with a compressible
substance. The density of this substance is given by (h) grams per cubic centimeter,
where h is the height (in centimeters) from the bottom of the cylinder. Write an
expression for the total mass of the substance in the cylinder.
2. A city is in the shape of a rectangle 4 miles wide by 6 miles long. A river runs through
the middle of the city, parallel to the 6 mile-long sides. People prefer to live nearer the
water, so the density of people is given by (x) = 10,000 800x people per square
mile, where x is the distance from the river. (You may ignore the width of the river in
this problem.)
(a) Show in a sketch how you will need to slice up the region.
(b) What is the area of the ith slice?
(c) What is the approximate population in the ith slice?
(d) Write a Riemann sum to estimate the total population of the city.

27.1

Finding Mass When Density Varies

839

(e) Calculate the exact population by taking the limit of the Riemann sum and evaluating the resulting denite integral.
3. Traditionally, when a college football team seems certain to receive a bid to play in
the post-season Orange Bowl, fans begin to throw oranges onto the eld. Suppose that
at one point during a game, the number of oranges per square yard between the goal
line and the 30-yard line is given by (x) = 30x
3 oranges per square yard, where x is
the number of yards from the goal line. If the eld is 160 feet (160/3 yards) wide, how
many oranges lie between the goal line and the 30-yard line?
4. (a) A farmer has planted corn on a rectangular plot of land 800 meters by 1000 meters.
A straight stream runs alongside one of the long borders of the plot, and the farmers
irrigation system is such that his yield decreases with the distance from the stream.

Suppose his yield is given by f (x) = 50 0.3 x ears of corn per square meter,
where x is the distance from the stream in meters. What is the farmers yield from
the plot?
(b) A second farmer plants his corn in a circular plot with radius 80 meters and he has
a centralized irrigation system located in the middle of his eld. His yield drops
with the distance from the center of the eld. Suppose his yield is also given by

f (x) = 50 0.3 x ears of corn per square meter, this time x being the distance
from the center of the eld. What is the farmers yield from this plot?
5. Consider a box of cereal with raisins. The box is 5 centimeters deep, 25 centimeters
tall, and 16 centimeters wide. The raisins tend to fall toward the bottom; assume their
4
raisins per cubic centimeter, where h is the height
density is given by (h) = h+10
above the bottom of the box. How many raisins are in the box?
6. The density of dart holes on an old dartboard is given by (r) = (r1010
2 +1)2 holes per
square inch, where r is the distance, in inches, from the center of the board. If the
board is a circle with diameter 20 inches, nd the total number of holes in the board.
7. A beam of light is shining onto a screen creating a disk of radius 50 centimeters. The
intensity of light is brightest at the center and diminishes away from the center. If the
150
intensity of light at a distance r from the center of the beam is given by f (r) = 20+r
2
watt/square cm, nd the total wattage of the beams image on the screen.
8. A coastal town is in the shape of a 7-mile by 2-mile rectangle, with one of the 7-mile
sides along the coast. In this town people want to live near the beach and the population
density at a distance x from the coast is given by (x) = 4000 2000x people per
square mile.
(a) Write a general Riemann sum that approximates the total population of the town.
(b) Use your answer to part (a) to write a denite integral that represents the total
population of the town and evaluate the integral.
9. In Example 27.3, the density within a circle depended on the distance from the center,
so we sliced the circle into concentric circular rings and found the area of a slice by
two different methods.

840

CHAPTER 27

Applying the Denite Integral: Slice and Conquer

Now suppose that the density within a sphere is given by (r), where r is the
distance from its center.
(a) Describe the slices that would be used when approximating the total mass.
(b) Find the volume of each slice by a method analogous to the rst method used in
Example 27.3. (You will need to know that the volume of a sphere of radius r is
4 r 3
3 .)
(c) Explain both geometrically and numerically why it is reasonable to approximate
the volume of the ith slice by 4ri2r.
10. A rectangular meadow is 100 meters. A straight irrigation pipe 400 meters long runs
down the center of the meadow dividing it lengthwise in half. The density of wildowers
in the meadow varies with x, the distance from the irrigation pipe.
(a) If the density is given by g(x) owers per square meter, write an integral giving
the number of wildowers in the meadow. (Hint: Take advantage of symmetry.)
50
(b) If the density is given by g(x) = 1+x
2 owers per square meter, how many wildowers are in the meadow?
11. (a) Suppose that the density of organisms in a certain petri dish varies with the distance
from the center of the dish. The density at a distance x centimeters from the center
is given by f (x) organisms per square centimeter. The petri dish is 18 centimeters
in diameter.
i. Write an integral that gives the number of organisms in the dish.
2
ii. Find the number of organisms in the dish if f (x) = 100ex organisms per
square centimeter.
(b) Suppose that the density of organisms in a certain petri dish varies with the distance
from a strip of nutrients running along the diameter of the dish. The density at a
distance x centimeters from the line of nutrients is given by f (x) organisms per
square centimeter. The petri dish is 18 centimeters in diameter.
i. How will you slice up the petri dish?
ii. Approximate the number of organisms in the ith slice.
iii. Write a Riemann sum approximating the total number of organisms in the
petri dish.
iv. Write an integral that gives the number of organisms in the dish.
12. Suppose that the density of a planet of mass in a gaseous planet is given by the function
40000
(r) = 1+.0001r
3 kilograms per cubic kilometer, where r is the number of kilometers
from the center of the planet. Find the total mass of the planet if it has a radius of 8000
kilometers.
13. A chocolate trufe is a wonderfully decadent chocolate concoction. Trufes tend to be
spherical or hemispherical.
(a) Consider a trufe made by dipping a round hazelnut into various chocolates,
building up a delicious spherical delicacy. The number of calories per cubic
millimeter varies with x, where x is the distance from the center of the hazelnut.
If (x) gives the calories/mm3 at a distance x millimeters from the center, write
an integral that gives the number of calories in a trufe of radius R.

27.1

Finding Mass When Density Varies

841

(b) Another trufe is made in a hemispherical mold with radius R. Layers of different
types of chocolate are poured into the mold, one at a time, and allowed to set. The
number of calories per cubic millimeter varies with x, where x is the depth from
the top of the mold. The calorie density is given by (x) calories/mm3. Write an
integral that gives the number of calories in this hemispherical trufe.

Top of the mold

Hemispherical truffle mold

14. Liquid is being stored in a large spherical tank of radius 2 meters. The tank is completely
full and has been left standing for a long time. A mineral suspended in the liquid is
setting. Its density at a depth of h meters from the top is given by 5h milligrams per
cubic meter. Determine the number of milligrams of the mineral contained in the tank.

Top

15. A circular pond is 60 meters in diameter and has a bridge running along a diameter.
At lunchtime people stand on the bridge and throw bread onto the water to feed the
ducks. As a result, the density of ducks on the pond is given by a function (x) ducks
per square meter, where x is the distance from the bridge. How many ducks are on the
pond? (We will assume that the bridge itself is very thin so we can ignore its width.)
Notice that we cannot really say that the ducks are continuously distributed on the
pond. Ducks, after all, are discrete. We are making a continuous model of a discrete
phenomenon.
16. Let W (t) be the amount of water in a pool at time t, t measured in hours and W measured
in gallons. t = 0 corresponds
  to noon. Water is owing in and out of the pool at a rate
=
30
cos
given by dW
dt
2 t . During what time interval between noon and 5:00 p.m.
(0 t 5) is water owing out of the pool at a rate of 15 gallons an hour or more?
How much water actually has left the pool in this time interval?
17. In the town of Lybonrehc there has been a nuclear reactor meltdown, which released
radioactive iodine 131. Fortunately, the reactor has a containment building, which kept
the iodine from being released into the air. The containment building is hemispherical
with a radius of 100 feet. The density of iodine in the building was 6 105(200 h)
g/cubic feet, where h is the height from the oor (in feet). (It ranges from 12 103
g/cubic feet at the oor to 6 103 g/cubic feet near the top.)
(a) Derive an integral that gives the amount of iodine in the building. You must explain
your reasoning fully and clearly.
(b) Calculate the amount of iodine in the building.

842

CHAPTER 27

Applying the Denite Integral: Slice and Conquer

18. A spherical star has a radius of 90,000 kilometers. The density of matter in the star
K kilograms per cubic kilometer, where r is the distance (in
is given by (r) = (r+1)
3/2
kilometers) from the stars center and K is a positive constant.
Write out (but do not evaluate) an expression for the total mass of the star. Your
answer should contain the constant K.

19. A substance has been put in a centrifuge. We now have a cylindrical sample (radius
3 centimeters, height 4 centimeters) in which density varies with x, the distance (in
centimeters) from the central axis. If the density is given by (x) mg/cm3, write an
integral that gives the total mass of the substance.

20. A very thin, lighted pole 10 feet tall is placed upright in a familys backyard to attract
insects to it (where they are electrocuted). At one moment, the density of these insects
1.3
insects per cubic foot, where r measures the number of feet
is given by (r) = (r+1)
from the pole.
(a) How many insects are within 5 feet of the pole at a height of 10 feet or less?
(b) How many insects are within 5 feet of the pole at a height of 10 feet or more?

21. A circus tent has cylindrical symmetry about its center pole. The height a distance of
x feet from the center pole is given by h(x) = 8x 2 feet. What is the volume enclosed
1+ 16

by the tent of radius 4?

22. At the Three Aces pizzeria, the chef tosses lots of garlic on the pizza. The density of
garlic varies with x, the distance from the center of the pizza, and is given by
g(x) =

(x 3

x
ounces per square inch of pizza.
+ 2)2

If the pizza is 14 inches in diameter, and Three Aces cuts six slices from each pizza,
how much garlic is on one slice of pizza? (Problem by Andrew Engelward)

23. (a) What is the present value of a single payment of $2000 three years in the future?
Assume 5% interest compounded continuously.
(b) What is the present value of a continuous stream of income at the rate of $100,000
per year over the next 20 years? Assume 5% interest compounded continuously.
By a continuous stream of income we mean that we are modeling the situation
by assuming that money is being generated continuously at a rate of $100,000 per
year.
Begin by partitioning the time interval [0, 20] into n equal pieces. Figure
out the amount of money generated in the ith interval and pull it back to the
present. Summing these pull-backs should approximate the present value of the
entire income stream.