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Dylan Clark

Mrs. Tallmans AP Calc

Essay 1/4

27 February, 2017

Solids of Revolution

Calculus contains a vast wealth of equations, applications and more. However,

calculus consists of two main concepts: derivatives and integrals. The concept of the

derivative is used to find the slope of a line tangent to a curve and to find the

instantaneous rate of change of a graph. Whereas the integral is used to calculate area.

This is possible as the desired space is divided into an infinite number of shapes whose

area is simple to calculate, and they are then added together using the integral.

To begin, the most basic use of the integral is the calculation of the area under a

single curve or in other words, a graph.

Figure 1. Area Under y=x 2

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2
Figure 1 shows a graph of y=x , shaded in from x = 0 to x = 2. In order to

determine the area of the shaded region, this situation can be represented within an

integral, specifically a definite integral. The difference between an integral and definite

integral is the fact that using a definite integral will yield a specific value opposed to an

equation. The general notation for a definite integral is as follows.

f ( x ) dx
a

Within this integral, a and b represent the x interval in which the shaded region

resides. Taking the example of figure 1, the a would be 0 and the b would be 2, as

the area under the curve is shaded from x = 0 to x = 2. Therefore, the integral would

then be written as follows.

f ( x ) dx
0

Further, the f(x) is the equation of the graph that is being evaluated. As stated, in this

2
particular situation, the graphs equation is y=x . Meaning the integral would be

written as it is shown below.

x 2 dx
0

Lastly, the dx represents the way in which the shaded region is divided. Because the

equation of the graph is in terms of x, and because the integral ends with dx, the

shaded area is cut along the x axis.

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Figure 2. Area Under y=x 2 with dx Cuts

2
Figure 2 shows the shaded region under y=x as seen in Figure 1. However,

Figure 2 shows the division of the shaded region as represented by dx within the

integral. The shaded region is cut and infinite number of times between the

aforementioned interval x = 0 to x = 2, then added together in order to determine the

area under the curve.

This integral can now be calculated using the TI Nspire integral function, or by

hand. In order to solve by hand, the integral of y=x 2 must be found, which is

1 3
y= x . As determined previously, the integral needs to be evaluated from x = 0 to
3

x = 2, so 2, the end of the interval, would be plugged for x first, yielding a value of

2.6667. Then, the start of the interval, 0, would be plugged in for x yielding a value of 0.

The second value is then subtracted from the first, 2.6667 0 in this particular situation,

and the area under the curve is determined.

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Further, the integral can be used to find the area between two curves.

Figure 3. Area Between y=x 21 and y=2 x1

Figure 3 shows the graphs of

2
y=x 1 and y=2 x1 , with the area

between the two from x = 0 to x = 2 shaded. Much like the situation in which the area

under a curve was found, a simple integral can be used, with the same idea of an x

interval being used.

2

Also, the same dx cuts will be used to divide the area along the x axis,

vertically. However, within this situation there are two equations opposed to the single fx

previously. Therefore two equations are required in the integral.

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Figure 4. Area Between y=x 21 and y=2 x1 with dx cuts

Unlike the original problem of an area under the curve in which the shaded

region and the dx cuts existed between the curve and the x axis, the shaded region

within this problem exists between the two curves. Therefore, the dx cuts exist between

the upper curve and the lower curve. To find the distance between the two, the distance

from the x axis would need to be subtracted from the distance between the x axis,

which acts as the new fx. This results in an integral written as seen below.

( 2 x1 )( x2 1) dx
0

This integral can then be evaluated just as it was in the previous problem. The integral

of both equations would be found and the end points of the x interval plugged in. The

area between two curves can also be found using dy cuts in which the shaded region is
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divided along the y axis, vertically. This can only be done if the integral is written with

the two equations in terms of y, along with dy at the end.

Delving into more complicated concepts, the integral can be used to calculate

volume. Take first, for example, the equation y=x 2 and the area under it as seen

represented in blue below, and the result if it was rotated around the x axis creating

the area represented in pink. The two areas combined would create a solid cone-like

shape. However the resulting shape is not exactly a cone so there is no set equation for

its volume, meaning the integral is needed. As with area, volume is found by dividing the

desired region into an infinite number of easily manageable pieces. With a shape such

as the one created below, the individual pieces would be disks.

Figure 5. Area under y=x 2 Rotated Around the x axis with dx Disks

Figure 5 shows the resulting shape when the area under y=x 2 is rotated

around the x axis creating a 3-D shape.

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As the original function was rotated around the x axis, the disks would be sliced

along the x axis, vertically, as dx cuts. This creates an infinite number of disks,

spanning along the x interval from the original shaded area, the blue area in this

situation, x = 0 to x = 1. Two of the infinite number of disks are represented in blue in

Figure 5. The volume of a disk begins with the volume of a circle, which is r 2 . In a

situation such as this, the center of each disk is the axis that it is rotated around.

Therefore, the radius is the distance between the axis and the curve, which is simply y,

and as stated y=x 2 . Lastly, a ring contrary to a circle has thickness. This thickness is

accounted for as the solid is cut into the aforementioned dx cuts. Each of these

elements are then inserted into an integral and the infinite disks are added together in

order to find the volume.

x 4 dx
0

Figure 6. Area Between y=x 2 and y axis Rotated Around the y axis with dy Disks

2
Figure 6 shows the same y=x graph instead rotated around the y axis.

When looking at the area represented in white, between the y axis and the function,

rotating it around the y axis creates a bowl like solid.

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This time, because the area is rotated around the y axis, the resulting solid

needs to be divided into disks along the y axis, horizontally, as shown in orange

above. Therefore, the integral must contain dy and as a result, the radius must be

written in terms of y. The equation of the graph is y=x 2 and written in terms of y, it is

x= y . The limits of integration are also then in terms of y, or along the y axis.

Based on the original shaded region, the y interval is y = 0 to y = 1. The integral is then

written as follows.

y dy
0

2
Working with the same y=x one more time, seen below is the area under the curve

2
represented in blue, between y=x and the x axis rotated around the y axis.

Figure 7. Are Under y=x 2 Rotated Around the y axis with dy Rings

Figure 7 shows the area under y=x 2 rotated around the y axis.

In this situation, a solid is created represented in blue above. As shown, it is a

structure in which the majority of the middle is missing, such as a bowl. Obviously, disks
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cannot accurately account for the volume of the solid due to the missing center. In order

to account for the missing center, the ring method can be used. Much like the disk

method, the ring method consists of the desired solid being divided into an infinite

number of pieces. Once again, as the shaded region is rotated around the y axis, the

shape is cut into dy cuts, horizontally, along the y axis. The equation for a single ring

is the larger, outside radius squared minus the inner radius squared, R2r 2 , and that

quantity multiplied by . Represented in red is a disk that created using the larger

radius which is simply 1. Represented in yellow, is the disk created using the smaller

radius, or the distance between the graph and the y axis, or simply x. As solved

previously, x= y . By subtracting the smaller radius from the larger radius, only the

part of the red that exists within the shaded region remains. This is done an infinite

number of times and then added using the integral seen below.

1
( 2 y )dy
1

Further, there exists another method to solve the problem in Figure 7: the shell

method. Instead of dividing the 3-D shape into an infinite number of rings, it is instead

divided into an infinite number of shells, such as paper towel rolls or cylinders with no

middle area. See Figure 8 below.

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2
Figure 8. Area Under y=x Rotated Around the y axis With dx Shells

Figure 8 above shows the area under y=x 2 rotated around the y axis and

one of the infinite number of shells making up the resulting 3-D shape.

A single shell is simply the circumference of a circle, multiplied by the height of

the shell itself. The circumference of a circle is 2 times the radius. This radius is

ever-changing as it continues to get infinitely smaller as a shell is put inside of another,

and another shell inside of that until the shape is filled. With the shell method, an object

rotated around the y axis does not have to be converted to terms of y, because the

cuts are in terms of x, dx cuts. This is because the outer edge of each shell exists along

the x axis, as the shells decrease in radius, they move along the x axis towards 0. A

single shells equation would be 2 times the radius, which is simply x, times the

height of the shell which is y, the curve itself. The limits of integration are found by again

looking at the original shaded region and its x interval as dx cuts are used. This results

in an integral that is written as follows.

2 x x2 dx
0
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Finally, there is one more method to determining the volume of a solid. This

method is called the cross sectional method, in which shapes such as squares and

triangles of an infinite number of sizes are added together to fill in the volume of a 3-D

shape.

Figure 9. Solid with a Triangle Base Made Up of Semi-Circles

Figure 9 is a visual of what is happening within the concept of cross sectional

volume. The triangle on the graph made up of line segments origin a, origin b, and a

b is the base of a solid. Within this solid, are an infinite number of different sized semi-

circles that, when combined, estimates the volume of the 3-D shape.

Take the graph of x 2+ y 2 =1 for example, with square cross sections as seen in

the figure below.

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2 2
Figure 10. Graph of x + y =1 with Square Cross Sectional Cuts

Figure 10 shows the graph of x 2+ y 2 =1 represented in blue and represented in

pink, one of the infinite number of square cross sections meant to represent the

volume of the solid in which the function acts as a base.

First, the volume of a single square must be found. Half of one side of the square

is y, or the distance from the x axis to the function itself. It can be solved that

y= 1x 2 and therefore, one full side of the square is 2y, and the area of the square

is 2y times 2y or 4y
2
. Plugging in 1x 2 for y results in an area of 4 1x2 .

This area, multiplied by the thickness of the square would be the volume. This thickness

is accounted for as each square is cut just like the rings. As shown, not the width of its

face, but the actual thickness of the square in Figure 10 is the minute distance along the

x axis. This means dx cuts are used and the limits of integration are found by looking

at the original function. The x interval of the original function is from x = -1 to x = 1.

Putting these pieces together result in the following integral.

4 1x 2 dx
1
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To bring these ideas together, here are some example problems. Take the graphs

x
y= x y=
of and 3 . The region bounded between the two, represented in red and

blue respectively is shown in orange below.

x
Figure 11. Area Bound by y= x and y=
3

x
Figure 11 above shows the graphs of y= x and y= and the area
3

between them shaded in orange.

The first problem to complete is to find the area of said shaded region. The most

straightforward way to approach this problem is to use dx cuts which are vertical and

mean the original x interval must be used as the limits of integration. Also, the graph of

x x
y= x . is above the graph of y= y=
3 . so 3 . must be subtracted from

y= x . The integral would then look as follows.

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x 3x dx
0

Using the integration command on the calculator results in an answer of 4.5 units2 .

Next, the region is rotated around the horizontal line y = -2 creating a solid. This

situation can be seen below.

x
Figure 12. Area Bound by y= x and y= Rotated Around y = -2 with dx Rings
3

x
y= x y=
Figure 12 shows the area bound by the graphs of and 3

rotated around the line y = -2. Also shown is an example of the ring used to calculate

the volume.
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To solve this problem, the disk method is needed as there is an empty area

within the solid. First, the volume of a single ring must be found. The outer radius is the

distance between the axis of rotation and the outer most point. The axis of rotation is y =

-2, and the outer most point is the graph of y= x . Therefore, the larger radius is 2

+ x . The inner radius is the distance between the axis of rotation and the inner

x
edge of the solid, the inner edge being the graph of y = 3 . Therefore, the smaller

x
radius is 2 + 3 . As the thickness of each ring is along the x axis, the original x

interval of x = 0 to x = 9 is used as the limits of integration. The integral to solve this

problem would then be as follows.

9 2
(2+ x) 2+ 3x
2
dx
0

3
Using the integration command on the calculator results in an answer of 98.96 units

x
y= x y=
Finally, the region bounded by the graphs of and 3 acts as the

base of a solid. With cross sections perpendicular to the x axis that are isosceles

right triangles, the volume of the solid must be found.

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x
Figure 13. Area Bound by y= x and y= Cross Sectional Triangles
3

x
Figure 13 above shows the graphs of y= x and y= and the area bound
3

between the two. Also shown in yellow are two of the infinite number of right triangles

that jut out from the base and combine to represent the 3-D solid.

In order to solve this problem, the volume of a single triangle must be found. The

x
base of one triangle is the distance between the curve of y= x and y= .
3

x
Therefore, the length of the base of the triangle is x - 3 . Since the triangles are

x
isosceles the other side, or the height, is also x - 3 . The area of the triangle

x 2
would then be ( x ) / 2. In order to get the volume, this quantity would then be
3
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multiplied by the thickness, which is simply x. This means the cuts are along the x

axis, or dx cuts and the original x interval is used as the limits of integration. The integral

is then as follows.

x 2
9( x )
2 3 dx
0

Using the integration command on the calculator results in an answer of 1.35 units3 .

Calculus is used everywhere imaginable, and contains many complex ideas.

Something as abstract as finding the area under a curve or between two curves can be

found using the integral. Something seemingly impossible such as calculating the

volume of an abstract shape can be done using the integral. There is an entire world of

calculus and an entire world that can be modeled and analyzed using calculus. The

disk, ring, shell, and cross sectional methods are all integral parts of calculus and

understanding them is vital.

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Works Cited

"Applications and Extensions of the Integral." Chapter 7. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

"Chegg.com." Volume By Slicing 1.) Find The Volume Of The Solid... | Chegg.com. N.p., n.d.

Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

Desmos Graphing Calculator. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

"Visualizing Solids of Revolution." Definite Integrals - Visualizing Solids of Revolution -

Mathematics Stack Exchange. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

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