Arkansas Tech University

MATH 2934: Calculus III

Dr. Marcel B. Finan
25 Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates
There are regions in the plane that are not easily used as domains of iterated
integrals in rectangular coordinates. For instance, regions such as a disk,
ring, or a portion of a disk or ring.
We start by recalling the relationship between Cartesian and polar coordi-
nates. The Cartesian system consists of two rectangular axes. A point P
in this system is uniquely determined by two numbers x and y as shown in
Figure 25.1(a). The polar coordinate system consists of a point O, called the
pole, and a half-axis starting at O and pointing to the right, known as the
polar axis. A point P in this system is determined by two numbers: the
distance r between P and O and an angle between the ray OP and the
polar axis as shown in Figure 25.1(b).
Figure 25.1
The Cartesian and polar coordinates can be combined into one gure as
shown in Figure 25.2.
Figure 25.2 reveals the relationship between the Cartesian and polar coordi-
nates:
r =

x
2
+ y
2
x = r cos y = r sin tan =
y
x
.
1
Figure 25.2
A double integral in polar coordinates can be dened as follows. Suppose we
have a region
R = {(r, ) : a r b, }
as shown in Figure 25.3(a).
Figure 25.3
Partition the interval into m equal subitervals, and the interval
a r b into n equal subintervals, thus obtaining mn subrectangles as
shown in Figure 25.3(b). Choose a sample point (r
ij
,
ij
) in the subrectangle
R
ij
dened by r
i1
r r
i
and
j1

j
. Then

R
f(x, y)dxdy
m

j=1
n

i=1
f(r
ij
,
ij
)R
ij
2
where R
ij
is the area of the subrectangle R
ij
.
To calculate the area of R
ij
, look at Figure 25.4. If r and are small
then R
ij
is approximately a rectangle with area r
ij
r so
R
ij
r
ij
r.
Thus, the double integral can be approximated by a Riemann sum

R
f(x, y)dxdy
m

j=1
n

i=1
f(r
ij
,
ij
)r
ij
r
Taking the limit as m, n we obtain

R
f(x, y)dxdy =

b
a
f(r, )rdrd.
Figure 25.4
Example 25.1
Evaluate

R
e
x
2
+y
2
dxdy where R : x
2
+ y
2
1.
3
Solution.
We have

R
e
x
2
+y
2
dxdy =

1
1

1x
2

1x
2
e
x
2
+y
2
dydx
=

2
0

1
0
e
r
2
rdrd =

2
0
1
2
e
r
2

1
0
d
=

2
0
1
2
(e 1)d = (e 1)
Example 25.2
Compute the area of a circle of radius 1.
Solution.
The area is given by

1
1

1x
2

1x
2
dydx =

2
0

1
0
rdrd
=
1
2

2
0
d =
Example 25.3
Evaluate f(x, y) =
1
x
2
+y
2
over the region D shown below.
Solution.
We have

4
0

2
1
1
r
2
rdrd =

4
0
ln 2d =

4
ln 2
4
Example 25.4
For each of the regions shown below, decide whether to integrate using rect-
angular or polar coordinates. In each case write an iterated integral of an
arbitrary function f(x, y) over the region.
Solution.
(a)

2
0

3
0
f(r, )rdrd
(b)

3
1

2
1
f(x, y)dydx
(c)

2
0

3
1
2
x1
f(x, y)dydx
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