Multivariable Calculus. IV.

Double Integrals over Rectangular Regions

We can antidifferentiate a function of two or more variables with respect to one of the variables
by treating all other variables as though they were constants. Thus, this operation is the reverse
operation of partial differentiation.

Example 1 (Partial Antidifferentiation). Evaluate:

(A) (6 xy 2 3 x 2 )dy ;

(B) (6 xy 2 3 x 2 )dx .

Solution.
(A) Treating x as a constant and using the properties of antidifferentiation, we have (the dy tells
us that we are looking for the antiderivative of 6 xy 2 3x 2 with respect to y only, holding x
constant):
y3
2
2
2
2
(6
xy

3
x
)
dy

6
x
y
dy

3
x
dy

6
x
3 x 2 y C ( x) 2 xy 3 3 x 2 y C ( x) .

3
Note that the constant of integration can be any function of x alone since for any such function,

C ( x) 0 .
y
(B) We treat y as a constant:
x2
x3
3 E ( y ) 3x 2 y 2 x3 E ( y ) .
2
3
The antiderivative contains an arbitrary function E ( y ) of y alone.
2
2
2
2
2
(6 xy 3x )dx 6 y xdx 3 x dx 6 y

Example 2 (Evaluating a Partial Antiderivative). Evaluate, substituting the limits of

integration in y if dy is used and in x if dy is used:
2

(A) (6 xy 2 3x 2 )dy ;

(B) (6 xy 2 3x 2 )dx .

Solution.
(A) From Example 1A, we know that
2
2
3
2
(6 xy 3x )dy 2 xy 3x y C ( x) .
According to properties of the definite integral for a function of one variable, we can use any
antiderivative to evaluate the definite integral. Thus, choosing C ( x) 0 , we have
2

2
2
3
2
(6 xy 3x )dy 2 xy 3x y
0

y 2
y 0

2 x 23 3x 2 2 2 x 03 3 x 2 0 16 x 6 x 2 .

(B) From Example 1B, we know that

2
2
2 2
3
(6 xy 3x )dx 3x y x E ( y ) .
1

Choosing E ( y ) 0 , we have
1

(6 xy

3x 2 )dx 3x 2 y 2 x3

x 1
x 0

3 12 y 2 13 3 02 y 2 03 3 y 2 1 .

Integrating and evaluating a definite integral with integrand f ( x, y ) with respect to y

produces a function of x alone (or a constant). Likewise, integrating and evaluating a definite
integral with integrand f ( x, y ) with respect to x produces a function of y alone (or a constant).
Each of these results, involving at most one variable, can now be used as an integrand in a
second definite integral.

Example 3 (Evaluating Integrals). Evaluate:

2

(A) (6 xy 2 3 x 2 )dy dx ;
0 0

(B) (6 xy 2 3 x 2 )dx dy .
0 0

Solution.
(A) Example 2A showed that
2

(6 xy

3x 2 )dy 16 x 6 x 2 .

Therefore,
1
2

2
2
16 x 6 x 2 dx (8 x 2 2 x 3 )
(6
xy

3
x
)
dy
dx

0 0

x 1
x 0

10 .

(B) Example 2B showed that

1

(6 xy

3x 2 )dx 3 y 2 1 .

Therefore,
2
1

2
2
2
3
0 0 (6 xy 3x )dx dy 0 3 y 1 dy ( y y )
2

y2
y 0

10 .

Definition (Double Integral). The double integral of a function f ( x, y ) over a rectangle

R ( x, y ) : a x b, c y d
is

b d
d b

f ( x, y )dA f ( x, y )dy dx f ( x, y )dx dy .

a c
c a

In the double integral

f ( x, y )dA ,

f ( x, y ) is called the integrand, and R is called the

region of integration. The expression dA indicates that this is an integral over a twodimensional region. The integrals
b d
d b

and
f
(
x
,
y
)
dy
dx
f
(
x
,
y
)
dx

dy
a c
c a

are referred to as iterated integrals (the brackets are often omitted), and the order in which dx
and dy are written indicates the order of integration. This is not the most general definition of
the double integral over a rectangular region; however, it is equivalent to the general definition
for all the functions we will consider.

Example 4 (Evaluating a Double Integral). Evaluate

( x y )dA

over R ( x, y ) : 1 x 3, 1 y 2 .

Solution. We can choose either order of iteration:

3 2
3

y2

y
dA

y
dy
dx

xy

(
)
(
)

R
1 1
1
2

3x 2 3x
3

3x dx

2
2
2
1
3

x 3

x 1

1
dx 2 x 2 x dx
2

1
y 1
.
y2

27 9 3 3
18 3 15.
2 2 2 2

Average Value over Rectangular Regions

Definition (Average Value over Rectangular Regions). The average value of the function
f ( x, y ) over the rectangle

R ( x, y ) : a x b, c y d
is
1
f ( x, y )dA .
(b a )(d c)
R

Example 5 (Average Value). Find the average value of f ( x, y ) 4

rectangle R ( x, y ) : 0 x 2, 0 y 2 .
Solution. We have
1
1
1
1

f ( x, y )dA
4 x

(b a )(d c) R
(2 0)(2 0) R
2
2
2
1
1
1
4 y xy y2
4 0
2
4

1
dx 7 x dx
40
y 0

y2

1
1
x y over the
2
2

1
1
1

y dA 4 x
4 0 0
2
2

1
x2
7x
4
2

2 2

x2

x 0

y dy dx

1
14 2 3.
4

Volume and Double Integrals

Theorem (Volume under a Surface).
If f ( x, y ) 0 over a rectangle R ( x, y ) : a x b, c y d , then the volume of the solid
formed by graphing f over the rectangle R is given by

V f ( x, y )dA .
R

Example 6 (Volume). Find the volume of the solid under the graph of f ( x, y ) 1 x 2 y 2 over
the rectangle R ( x, y ) : 0 x 1, 0 y 1 .
Solution. We have

1 1

V 1 x y dA
2

0 0

x3
1 x y dx dy x xy 2
3

1
4

4
y 2 dy y y 3
3
3

3
0
1

y 1

y 0

dy

x 0
x 1

5
cubic units.
3