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Mathematics LibreTexts

15.3: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates

  • Gilbert Strang & Edwin “Jed” Herman
  • OpenStax

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Learning Objectives
  • Recognize the format of a double integral over a polar rectangular region.
  • Evaluate a double integral in polar coordinates by using an iterated integral.
  • Recognize the format of a double integral over a general polar region.
  • Use double integrals in polar coordinates to calculate areas and volumes.

Double integrals are sometimes much easier to evaluate if we change rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates. However, before we describe how to make this change, we need to establish the concept of a double integral in a polar rectangular region.

Polar Rectangular Regions of Integration

When we defined the double integral for a continuous function in rectangular coordinates—say, g over a region R in the xy-plane—we divided R into subrectangles with sides parallel to the coordinate axes. These sides have either constant x-values and/or constant y-values. In polar coordinates, the shape we work with is a polar rectangle, whose sides have constant r-values and/or constant θ-values. This means we can describe a polar rectangle as in Figure 15.3.1a, with R={(r,θ)|arb,αθβ}.

This figure consists of three figures labeled a, b, and c. In figure a, a sector of an annulus is shown in the polar coordinate plane with radii a and b and angles alpha and beta from the theta = 0 axis. In figure b, this sector of an annulus is cut up into subsectors in a manner similar to the way in which previous spaces were cut up into subrectangles. In figure c, one of these subsectors is shown with angle Delta theta, distance between inner and outer radii Delta r, and area Delta A = r* sub theta Delta r Delta theta, where the center point is given as (r* sub i j, theta* sub i j).
Figure 15.3.1: (a) A polar rectangle R (b) divided into subrectangles Rij (c) Close-up of a subrectangle.

In this section, we are looking to integrate over polar rectangles. Consider a function f(r,θ) over a polar rectangle R. We divide the interval [a,b] into m subintervals [ri1,ri] of length Δr=(ba)/m and divide the interval [α,β] into n subintervals [θi1,θi] of width Δθ=(βα)/n. This means that the circles r=ri and rays θ=θi for 1im and 1jn divide the polar rectangle R into smaller polar subrectangles Rij (Figure 15.3.1b).

As before, we need to find the area ΔA of the polar subrectangle Rij and the “polar” volume of the thin box above Rij. Recall that, in a circle of radius r the length s of an arc subtended by a central angle of θ radians is s=rθ. Notice that the polar rectangle Rij looks a lot like a trapezoid with parallel sides ri1Δθ and riΔθ and with a width Δr. Hence the area of the polar subrectangle Rij is

ΔA=12Δr(ri1Δθ+riΔθ).

Simplifying and letting

rij=12(ri1+ri)

we have ΔA=rijΔrΔθ.

Therefore, the polar volume of the thin box above Rij (Figure 15.3.2) is

f(rij,θij)ΔA=f(rij,θij)rijΔrΔθ.

In x y z space, there is a surface f (r, theta). On the x y plane, a series of subsectors of annuli are drawn as in the previous figure with radius between annuli Delta r and angle between subsectors Delta theta. A subsector from the surface f(r, theta) is projected down onto one of these subsectors. This subsector has center point marked (r* sub i j, theta* sub i j).
Figure 15.3.2: Finding the volume of the thin box above polar rectangle Rij.

Using the same idea for all the subrectangles and summing the volumes of the rectangular boxes, we obtain a double Riemann sum as

mi=1nj=1f(rij,θij)rijΔrΔθ.

As we have seen before, we obtain a better approximation to the polar volume of the solid above the region R when we let m and n become larger. Hence, we define the polar volume as the limit of the double Riemann sum,

V=limm,nmi=1nj=1f(rij,θij)rijΔrΔθ.

This becomes the expression for the double integral.

Definition: The double integral in polar coordinates

The double integral of the function f(r,θ) over the polar rectangular region R in the rθ-plane is defined as

Again, just as in section on Double Integrals over Rectangular Regions, the double integral over a polar rectangular region can be expressed as an iterated integral in polar coordinates. Hence,

\iint_R f(r, \theta)\,dA = \iint_R f(r, \theta) \,r \, dr \, d\theta = \int_{\theta=\alpha}^{\theta=\beta} \int_{r=a}^{r=b} f(r,\theta) \,r \, dr \, d\theta. \nonumber

Notice that the expression for dA is replaced by r \, dr \, d\theta when working in polar coordinates. Another way to look at the polar double integral is to change the double integral in rectangular coordinates by substitution. When the function f is given in terms of x and y using x = r \, \cos \, \theta, \, y = r \, \sin \, \theta, and dA = r \, dr \, d\theta changes it to

\iint_R f(x,y) \,dA = \iint_R f(r \, \cos \, \theta, \, r \, \sin \, \theta ) \,r \, dr \, d\theta. \nonumber

Note that all the properties listed in section on Double Integrals over Rectangular Regions for the double integral in rectangular coordinates hold true for the double integral in polar coordinates as well, so we can use them without hesitation.

Example \PageIndex{1A}: Sketching a Polar Rectangular Region

Sketch the polar rectangular region

R = \{(r, \theta)\,|\,1 \leq r \leq 3, 0 \leq \theta \leq \pi \}. \nonumber

Solution

As we can see from Figure \PageIndex{3}, r = 1 and r = 3 are circles of radius 1 and 3 and 0 \leq \theta \leq \pi covers the entire top half of the plane. Hence the region R looks like a semicircular band.

Half an annulus R is drawn with inner radius 1 and outer radius 3. That is, the inner semicircle is given by x squared + y squared = 1, whereas the outer semicircle is given by x squared + y squared = 9.
Figure \PageIndex{3}: The polar region R lies between two semicircles.

Now that we have sketched a polar rectangular region, let us demonstrate how to evaluate a double integral over this region by using polar coordinates.

Example \PageIndex{1B}: Evaluating a Double Integral over a Polar Rectangular Region

Evaluate the integral \displaystyle \iint_R 3x \, dA over the region R = \{(r, \theta)\,|\,1 \leq r \leq 2, \, 0 \leq \theta \leq \pi \}.

Solution

First we sketch a figure similar to Figure \PageIndex{3}, but with outer radius r=2. From the figure we can see that we have

\begin{align*} \iint_R 3x \, dA &= \int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi} \int_{r=1}^{r=2} 3r \, \cos \, \theta \,r \, dr \, d\theta \quad\text{Use an integral with correct limits of integration.} \\ &= \int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi} \cos \, \theta \left[\left. r^3\right|_{r=1}^{r=2}\right] d\theta \quad\text{Integrate first with respect to $r$.} \\ &=\int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi} 7 \, \cos \, \theta \, d\theta \\ &= 7 \, \sin \, \theta \bigg|_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi} = 0. \end{align*}

Exercise \PageIndex{1}

Sketch the region D = \{ (r,\theta) \vert 1\leq r \leq 2, \, -\frac{\pi}{2} \leq \theta \leq \frac{\pi}{2} \}, and evaluate \displaystyle \iint_R x \, dA.

Hint

Follow the steps in Example \PageIndex{1A}.

Answer

\frac{14}{3}

Example \PageIndex{2A}: Evaluating a Double Integral by Converting from Rectangular Coordinates

Evaluate the integral

\iint_R (1 - x^2 - y^2) \,dA \nonumber

where R is the unit circle on the xy-plane.

Solution

The region R is a unit circle, so we can describe it as R = \{(r, \theta )\,|\,0 \leq r \leq 1, \, 0 \leq \theta \leq 2\pi \}.

Using the conversion x = r \, \cos \, \theta, \, y = r \, \sin \, \theta, and dA = r \, dr \, d\theta, we have

\begin{align*} \iint_R (1 - x^2 - y^2) \,dA &= \int_0^{2\pi} \int_0^1 (1 - r^2) \,r \, dr \, d\theta \\[4pt] &= \int_0^{2\pi} \int_0^1 (r - r^3) \,dr \, d\theta \\ &= \int_0^{2\pi} \left[\frac{r^2}{2} - \frac{r^4}{4}\right]_0^1 \,d\theta \\&= \int_0^{2\pi} \frac{1}{4}\,d\theta = \frac{\pi}{2}. \end{align*}

Example \PageIndex{2B}: Evaluating a Double Integral by Converting from Rectangular Coordinates

Evaluate the integral \displaystyle \iint_R (x + y) \,dA \nonumber where R = \big\{(x,y)\,|\,1 \leq x^2 + y^2 \leq 4, \, x \leq 0 \big\}.

Solution

We can see that R is an annular region that can be converted to polar coordinates and described as R = \left\{(r, \theta)\,|\,1 \leq r \leq 2, \, \frac{\pi}{2} \leq \theta \leq \frac{3\pi}{2} \right\} (see the following graph).

Two semicircles are drawn in the second and third quadrants, with equations x squared + y squared = 1 and x squared + y squared = 2.
Figure \PageIndex{4}: The annular region of integration R.

Hence, using the conversion x = r \, \cos \, \theta, \, y = r \, \sin \, \theta, and dA = r \, dr \, d\theta, we have

\begin{align*} \iint_R (x + y)\,dA &= \int_{\theta=\pi/2}^{\theta=3\pi/2} \int_{r=1}^{r=2} (r \, \cos \, \theta + r \, \sin \, \theta) r \, dr \, d\theta \\ &= \left(\int_{r=1}^{r=2} r^2 \, dr\right)\left(\int_{\pi/2}^{3\pi/2} (\cos \, \theta + \sin \, \theta)\,d\theta\right) \\ &= \left. \left[\frac{r^3}{3}\right]_1^2 [\sin \, \theta - \cos \, \theta] \right|_{\pi/2}^{3\pi/2} \\ &= - \frac{14}{3}. \end{align*}

Exercise \PageIndex{2}

Evaluate the integral \displaystyle \iint_R (4 - x^2 - y^2)\,dA \nonumber where R is the circle of radius 2 on the xy-plane.

Hint

Follow the steps in the previous example.

Answer

8\pi

General Polar Regions of Integration

To evaluate the double integral of a continuous function by iterated integrals over general polar regions, we consider two types of regions, analogous to Type I and Type II as discussed for rectangular coordinates in section on Double Integrals over General Regions. It is more common to write polar equations as r = f(\theta) than \theta = f(r), so we describe a general polar region as R = \{(r, \theta)\,|\,\alpha \leq \theta \leq \beta, \, h_1 (\theta) \leq r \leq h_2(\theta)\} (Figure \PageIndex{5}).

A region D is shown in polar coordinates with edges given by theta = alpha, theta = beta, r = h2(theta), and r = h1(theta).
Figure \PageIndex{5}: A general polar region between \alpha \leq \theta \leq \beta and h_1(\theta) \leq r \leq h_2(\theta).
Theorem: Double Integrals over General Polar Regions

If f(r, \theta) is continuous on a general polar region D as described above, then

\iint_D f(r, \theta ) \,r \, dr \, d\theta = \int_{\theta=\alpha}^{\theta=\beta} \int_{r=h_1(\theta)}^{r=h_2(\theta)} f(r,\theta) \, r \, dr \, d\theta. \nonumber

Example \PageIndex{3}: Evaluating a Double Integral over a General Polar Region

Evaluate the integral

\iint_D r^2 \sin \theta \, r \, dr \, d\theta \nonumber

where D is the region bounded by the polar axis and the upper half of the cardioid r = 1 + \cos \, \theta.

Solution

We can describe the region D as \{(r, \theta)\,|\,0 \leq \theta \leq \pi, \, 0 \leq r \leq 1 + \cos \, \theta\} as shown in Figure \PageIndex{6}.

A region D is given as the top half of a cardioid with equation r = 1 + cos theta.
Figure \PageIndex{6}: The region D is the top half of a cardioid.

Hence, we have

\begin{align*} \iint_D r^2 \sin \, \theta \, r \, dr \, d\theta &= \int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi} \int_{r=0}^{r=1+\cos \theta} (r^2 \sin \, \theta) \,r \, dr \, d\theta \\ &= \frac{1}{4}\left.\int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi}[r^4] \right|_{r=0}^{r=1+\cos \, \theta} \sin \, \theta \, d\theta \\ &= \frac{1}{4} \int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi} (1 + \cos \, \theta )^4 \sin \, \theta \, d\theta \\ &= - \frac{1}{4} \left[ \frac{(1 + \cos \, \theta)^5}{5}\right]_0^{\pi} = \frac{8}{5}.\end{align*}

Exercise \PageIndex{3}

Evaluate the integral

\iint_D r^2 \sin^2 2\theta \,r \, dr \, d\theta \nonumber

where D = \left\{ (r,\theta)\,|\,0 \leq \theta \leq \pi, \, 0 \leq r \leq 2 \sqrt{\cos \, 2\theta} \right\}.

Hint

Graph the region and follow the steps in the previous example.

Answer

\frac{\pi}{8}

Polar Areas and Volumes

As in rectangular coordinates, if a solid S is bounded by the surface z = f(r, \theta), as well as by the surfaces r = a, \, r = b, \, \theta = \alpha, and \theta = \beta, we can find the volume V of S by double integration, as

V = \iint_R f(r, \theta) \,r \, dr \, d\theta = \int_{\theta=\alpha}^{\theta=\beta} \int_{r=a}^{r=b} f(r,\theta)\, r \, dr \, d\theta. \nonumber

If the base of the solid can be described as D = \{(r, \theta)|\alpha \leq \theta \leq \beta, \, h_1 (\theta) \leq r \leq h_2(\theta)\}, then the double integral for the volume becomes

V = \iint_D f(r, \theta) \,r \, dr \, d\theta = \int_{\theta=\alpha}^{\theta=\beta} \int_{r=h_1(\theta)}^{r=h_2(\theta)} f(r,\theta) \,r \, dr \, d\theta. \nonumber

We illustrate this idea with some examples.

Example \PageIndex{4A}: Finding a Volume Using a Double Integral

Find the volume of the solid that lies under the paraboloid z = 1 - x^2 - y^2 and above the unit circle on the xy-plane (Figure \PageIndex{7}).

The paraboloid z = 1 minus x squared minus y squared is shown, which in this graph looks like a sheet with the middle gently puffed up and the corners anchored.
Figure \PageIndex{7}: Finding the volume of a solid under a paraboloid and above the unit circle.
Solution

By the method of double integration, we can see that the volume is the iterated integral of the form

\displaystyle \iint_R (1 - x^2 - y^2)\,dA \nonumber

where R = \big\{(r, \theta)\,|\,0 \leq r \leq 1, \, 0 \leq \theta \leq 2\pi\big\}.

This integration was shown before in Example \PageIndex{2A}, so the volume is \frac{\pi}{2} cubic units.

Example \PageIndex{4B}: Finding a Volume Using Double Integration

Find the volume of the solid that lies under the paraboloid z = 4 - x^2 - y^2 and above the disk (x - 1)^2 + y^2 = 1 on the xy-plane. See the paraboloid in Figure \PageIndex{8} intersecting the cylinder (x - 1)^2 + y^2 = 1 above the xy-plane.

A paraboloid with equation z = 4 minus x squared minus y squared is intersected by a cylinder with equation (x minus 1) squared + y squared = 1.
Figure \PageIndex{8}: Finding the volume of a solid with a paraboloid cap and a circular base.
Solution

First change the disk (x - 1)^2 + y^2 = 1 to polar coordinates. Expanding the square term, we have x^2 - 2x + 1 + y^2 = 1. Then simplify to get x^2 + y^2 = 2x, which in polar coordinates becomes r^2 = 2r \, \cos \, \theta and then either r = 0 or r = 2 \, \cos \, \theta. Similarly, the equation of the paraboloid changes to z = 4 - r^2. Therefore we can describe the disk (x - 1)^2 + y^2 = 1 on the xy -plane as the region

D = \{(r,\theta)\,|\,0 \leq \theta \leq \pi, \, 0 \leq r \leq 2 \, \cos \theta\}. \nonumber

Hence the volume of the solid bounded above by the paraboloid z = 4 - x^2 - y^2 and below by r = 2 \, \cos \theta is

\begin{align*} V &= \iint_D f(r, \theta) \,r \, dr \, d\theta \\&= \int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi} \int_{r=0}^{r=2 \, \cos \, \theta} (4 - r^2) \,r \, dr \, d\theta\\ &= \int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi}\left.\left[4\frac{r^2}{2} - \frac{r^4}{4}\right|_0^{2 \, \cos \, \theta}\right]d\theta \\ &= \int_0^{\pi} [8 \, \cos^2\theta - 4 \, \cos^4\theta]\,d\theta \\&= \left[\frac{5}{2}\theta + \frac{5}{2} \sin \, \theta \, \cos \, \theta - \sin \, \theta \cos^3\theta \right]_0^{\pi} = \frac{5}{2}\pi\; \text{units}^3. \end{align*}

Notice in the next example that integration is not always easy with polar coordinates. Complexity of integration depends on the function and also on the region over which we need to perform the integration. If the region has a more natural expression in polar coordinates or if f has a simpler antiderivative in polar coordinates, then the change in polar coordinates is appropriate; otherwise, use rectangular coordinates.

Example \PageIndex{5A}: Finding a Volume Using a Double Integral

Find the volume of the region that lies under the paraboloid z = x^2 + y^2 and above the triangle enclosed by the lines y = x, \, x = 0, and x + y = 2 in the xy-plane.

Solution

First examine the region over which we need to set up the double integral and the accompanying paraboloid.

This figure consists of three figures. The first is simply a paraboloid that opens up. The second shows the region D bounded by x = 0, y = x, and x + y = 2 with a vertical double-sided arrow within the region. The second shows the same region but in polar coordinates, so the lines bounding D are theta = pi/2, r = 2/(cos theta + sin theta), and theta = pi/4, with a double-sided arrow that has one side pointed at the origin.
Figure \PageIndex{9}: Finding the volume of a solid under a paraboloid and above a given triangle.

The region D is \{(x,y)\,|\,0 \leq x \leq 1, \, x \leq y \leq 2 - x\}. Converting the lines y = x, \, x = 0, and x + y = 2 in the xy-plane to functions of r and \theta we have \theta = \pi/4, \, \theta = \pi/2, and r = 2 / (\cos \, \theta + \sin \, \theta), respectively. Graphing the region on the xy- plane, we see that it looks like D = \{(r, \theta)\,|\,\pi/4 \leq \theta \leq \pi/2, \, 0 \leq r \leq 2/(\cos \, \theta + \sin \, \theta)\}.

Now converting the equation of the surface gives z = x^2 + y^2 = r^2. Therefore, the volume of the solid is given by the double integral

\begin{align*} V &= \iint_D f(r, \theta)\,r \, dr \, d\theta \\&= \int_{\theta=\pi/4}^{\theta=\pi/2} \int_{r=0}^{r=2/ (\cos \, \theta + \sin \, \theta)} r^2 r \, dr d\theta \\ &= \int_{\pi/4}^{\pi/2}\left[\frac{r^4}{4}\right]_0^{2/(\cos \, \theta + \sin \, \theta)} d\theta \\ &=\frac{1}{4}\int_{\pi/4}^{\pi/2} \left(\frac{2}{\cos \, \theta + \sin \, \theta}\right)^4 d\theta \\ &= \frac{16}{4} \int_{\pi/4}^{\pi/2} \left(\frac{1}{\cos \, \theta + \sin \, \theta} \right)^4 d\theta \\&= 4\int_{\pi/4}^{\pi/2} \left(\frac{1}{\cos \, \theta + \sin \, \theta}\right)^4 d\theta. \end{align*}

As you can see, this integral is very complicated. So, we can instead evaluate this double integral in rectangular coordinates as

V = \int_0^1 \int_x^{2-x} (x^2 + y^2) \,dy \, dx. \nonumber

Evaluating gives

\begin{align*} V &= \int_0^1 \int_x^{2-x} (x^2 + y^2) \,dy \, dx \\&= \int_0^1 \left.\left[x^2y + \frac{y^3}{3}\right]\right|_x^{2-x} dx\\ &= \int_0^1 \frac{8}{3} - 4x + 4x^2 - \frac{8x^3}{3} \,dx \\ &= \left.\left[\frac{8x}{3} - 2x^2 + \frac{4x^3}{3} - \frac{2x^4}{3}\right]\right|_0^1 \\&= \frac{4}{3} \; \text{units}^3. \end{align*}

To answer the question of how the formulas for the volumes of different standard solids such as a sphere, a cone, or a cylinder are found, we want to demonstrate an example and find the volume of an arbitrary cone.

Example \PageIndex{5B}: Finding a Volume Using a Double Integral

Use polar coordinates to find the volume inside the cone z = 2 - \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} and above the xy-plane.

Solution

The region D for the integration is the base of the cone, which appears to be a circle on the xy-plane (Figure \PageIndex{10}).

A cone given by z = 2 minus the square root of (x squared plus y squared) and a circle given by x squared plus y squared = 4. The cone is above the circle in xyz space.
Figure \PageIndex{10}: Finding the volume of a solid inside the cone and above the xy-plane.

We find the equation of the circle by setting z = 0:

\begin{align*} 0 &= 2 - \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} \\ 2 &= \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} \\ x^2 + y^2 &= 4. \end{align*}

This means the radius of the circle is 2 so for the integration we have 0 \leq \theta \leq 2\pi and 0 \leq r \leq 2. Substituting x = r \, \cos \theta and y = r \, \sin \, \theta in the equation z = 2 - \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} we have z = 2 - r. Therefore, the volume of the cone is

\int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=2\pi} \int_{r=0}^{r=2} (2 - r)\,r \, dr \, d\theta = 2 \pi \frac{4}{3} = \frac{8\pi}{3}\; \text{cubic units.} \nonumber

Analysis

Note that if we were to find the volume of an arbitrary cone with radius \alpha units and height h units, then the equation of the cone would be z = h - \frac{h}{a}\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}.

We can still use Figure \PageIndex{10} and set up the integral as

\int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=2\pi} \int_{r=0}^{r=a} \left(h - \frac{h}{a}r\right) r \, dr \, d\theta. \nonumber

Evaluating the integral, we get \frac{1}{3} \pi a^2 h.

Exercise \PageIndex{5}

Use polar coordinates to find an iterated integral for finding the volume of the solid enclosed by the paraboloids z = x^2 + y^2 and z = 16 - x^2 - y^2.

Hint

Sketching the graphs can help.

Answer

V = \int_0^{2\pi} \int_0^{2\sqrt{2}} (16 - 2r^2) \,r \, dr \, d\theta = 64 \pi \; \text{cubic units.} \nonumber

As with rectangular coordinates, we can also use polar coordinates to find areas of certain regions using a double integral. As before, we need to understand the region whose area we want to compute. Sketching a graph and identifying the region can be helpful to realize the limits of integration. Generally, the area formula in double integration will look like

\text{Area of} \, A = \int_{\alpha}^{\beta} \int_{h_1(\theta)}^{h_2(\theta)} 1 \,r \, dr \, d\theta. \nonumber

Example \PageIndex{6A}: Finding an Area Using a Double Integral in Polar Coordinates

Evaluate the area bounded by the curve r = \cos \, 4\theta.

Solution

Sketching the graph of the function r = \cos \, 4\theta reveals that it is a polar rose with eight petals (see the following figure).

A rose with eight petals given by r = cos (4 theta).
Figure \PageIndex{11}: Finding the area of a polar rose with eight petals.

Using symmetry, we can see that we need to find the area of one petal and then multiply it by 8. Notice that the values of \theta for which the graph passes through the origin are the zeros of the function \cos \, 4\theta, and these are odd multiples of \pi/8. Thus, one of the petals corresponds to the values of \theta in the interval [-\pi/8, \pi/8]. Therefore, the area bounded by the curve r = \cos \, 4\theta is

\begin{align*} A &= 8 \int_{\theta=-\pi/8}^{\theta=\pi/8} \int_{r=0}^{r=\cos \, 4\theta} 1\,r \, dr \, d\theta \\ &= 8 \int_{\theta=-\pi/8}^{\theta=\pi/8}\left.\left[\frac{1}{2}r^2\right|_0^{\cos \, 4\theta}\right] d\theta \\ &= 8 \int_{-\pi/8}^{\pi/8} \frac{1}{2} \cos^24\theta \, d\theta \\&= 8\left. \left[\frac{1}{4} \theta + \frac{1}{16} \sin \, 4\theta \, \cos \, 4\theta \right|_{-\pi/8}^{\pi/8}\right] \\&= 8 \left[\frac{\pi}{16}\right] = \frac{\pi}{2}\; \text{units}^2. \end{align*}

Example \PageIndex{6B}: Finding Area Between Two Polar Curves

Find the area enclosed by the circle r = 3 \, \cos \, \theta and the cardioid r = 1 + \cos \, \theta.

Solution

First and foremost, sketch the graphs of the region (Figure \PageIndex{12}).

A cardioid with equation 1 + cos theta is shown overlapping a circle given by r = 3 cos theta, which is a circle of radius 3 with center (1.5, 0). The area bounded by the x axis, the cardioid, and the dashed line connecting the origin to the intersection of the cardioid and circle on the r = 2 line is shaded.
Figure \PageIndex{12}: Finding the area enclosed by both a circle and a cardioid.

We can from see the symmetry of the graph that we need to find the points of intersection. Setting the two equations equal to each other gives

3 \, \cos \, \theta = 1 + \cos \, \theta. \nonumber

One of the points of intersection is \theta = \pi/3. The area above the polar axis consists of two parts, with one part defined by the cardioid from \theta = 0 to \theta = \pi/3 and the other part defined by the circle from \theta = \pi/3 to \theta = \pi/2. By symmetry, the total area is twice the area above the polar axis. Thus, we have

A = 2 \left[\int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=\pi/3} \int_{r=0}^{r=1+\cos \, \theta} 1 \,r \, dr \, d\theta + \int_{\theta=\pi/3}^{\theta=\pi/2} \int_{r=0}^{r=3 \, \cos \, \theta} 1\,r \, dr \, d\theta \right]. \nonumber

Evaluating each piece separately, we find that the area is

A = 2 \left(\frac{1}{4}\pi + \frac{9}{16} \sqrt{3} + \frac{3}{8} \pi - \frac{9}{16} \sqrt{3} \right) = 2 \left(\frac{5}{8}\pi\right) = \frac{5}{4}\pi \, \text{square units.} \nonumber

Exercise \PageIndex{6}

Find the area enclosed inside the cardioid r = 3 - 3 \, \sin \theta and outside the cardioid r = 1 + \sin \theta.

Hint

Sketch the graph, and solve for the points of intersection.

Answer

A = 2 \int_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/6} \int_{1+\sin \, \theta}^{3-3\sin \, \theta} \,r \, dr \, d\theta = \left(8 \pi + 9 \sqrt{3}\right) \; \text{units}^2 \nonumber

Example \PageIndex{7}: Evaluating an Improper Double Integral in Polar Coordinates

Evaluate the integral

\iint_{R^2} e^{-10(x^2+y^2)} \,dx \, dy. \nonumber

Solution

This is an improper integral because we are integrating over an unbounded region R^2. In polar coordinates, the entire plane R^2 can be seen as 0 \leq \theta \leq 2\pi, \, 0 \leq r \leq \infty.

Using the changes of variables from rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates, we have

\begin{align*} \iint_{R^2} e^{-10(x^2+y^2)}\,dx \, dy &= \int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=2\pi} \int_{r=0}^{r=\infty} e^{-10r^2}\,r \, dr \, d\theta = \int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=2\pi} \left(\lim_{a\rightarrow\infty} \int_{r=0}^{r=a} e^{-10r^2}r \, dr \right) d\theta \\ &=\left(\int_{\theta=0}^{\theta=2\pi}\right) d\theta \left(\lim_{a\rightarrow\infty} \int_{r=0}^{r=a} e^{-10r^2}r \, dr \right) \\ &=2\pi \left(\lim_{a\rightarrow\infty} \int_{r=0}^{r=a} e^{-10r^2}r \, dr \right) \\ &=2\pi \lim_{a\rightarrow\infty}\left(-\frac{1}{20}\right)\left(\left. e^{-10r^2}\right|_0^a\right) \\ &=2\pi \left(-\frac{1}{20}\right)\lim_{a\rightarrow\infty}\left(e^{-10a^2} - 1\right) \\ &= \frac{\pi}{10}. \end{align*}

Exercise \PageIndex{7}

Evaluate the integral

\iint_{R^2} e^{-4(x^2+y^2)}dx \, dy. \nonumber

Hint

Convert to the polar coordinate system.

Answer

\frac{\pi}{4}

Key Concepts

  • To apply a double integral to a situation with circular symmetry, it is often convenient to use a double integral in polar coordinates. We can apply these double integrals over a polar rectangular region or a general polar region, using an iterated integral similar to those used with rectangular double integrals.
  • The area dA in polar coordinates becomes r \, dr \, d\theta.
  • Use x = r \, \cos \, \theta, \, y = r \, \sin \, \theta, and dA = r \, dr \, d\theta to convert an integral in rectangular coordinates to an integral in polar coordinates.
  • Use r^2 = x^2 + y^2 and \theta = tan^{-1} \left(\frac{y}{x}\right) to convert an integral in polar coordinates to an integral in rectangular coordinates, if needed.
  • To find the volume in polar coordinates bounded above by a surface z = f(r, \theta) over a region on the xy-plane, use a double integral in polar coordinates.

Key Equations

  • Double integral over a polar rectangular region R

\iint_R f(r, \theta) dA = \lim_{m,n\rightarrow\infty}\sum_{i=1}^m \sum_{j=1}^n f(r_{ij}^*, \theta_{ij}^*) \Delta A = \lim_{m,n\rightarrow\infty}\sum_{i=1}^m \sum_{j=1}^nf(r_{ij}^*,\theta_{ij}^*)r_{ij}^*\Delta r \Delta \theta \nonumber

  • Double integral over a general polar region

\iint_D f(r, \theta)\,r \, dr \, d\theta = \int_{\theta=\alpha}^{\theta=\beta} \int_{r=h_1(\theta)}^{r_2(\theta)} f (r,\theta) \,r \, dr \, d\theta \nonumber

Glossary

polar rectangle
the region enclosed between the circles r = a and r = b and the angles \theta = \alpha and \theta = \beta; it is described as R = \{(r, \theta)\,|\,a \leq r \leq b, \, \alpha \leq \theta \leq \beta\}

This page titled 15.3: Double Integrals in Polar Coordinates is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gilbert Strang & Edwin “Jed” Herman (OpenStax) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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