Volume and the Slicing Method

Just as area is the numerical measure of a two-dimensional region, volume is the numerical measure of a three-dimensional solid. Most of us have computed volumes of solids by using basic geometric formulas. The volume of a rectangular solid, for example, can be computed by multiplying length, width, and height: [latex]V=lwh.[/latex] The formulas for the volume of a sphere [latex]\left(V=\frac{4}{3}\pi {r}^{3}\right),[/latex] a cone [latex]\left(V=\frac{1}{3}\pi {r}^{2}h\right),[/latex] and a pyramid [latex]\left(V=\frac{1}{3}Ah\right)[/latex] have also been introduced. Although some of these formulas were derived using geometry alone, all these formulas can be obtained by using integration.

We can also calculate the volume of a cylinder. Although most of us think of a cylinder as having a circular base, such as a soup can or a metal rod, in mathematics the word cylinder has a more general meaning. To discuss cylinders in this more general context, we first need to define some vocabulary.

We define the cross-section of a solid to be the intersection of a plane with the solid. A cylinder is defined as any solid that can be generated by translating a plane region along a line perpendicular to the region, called the axis of the cylinder. Thus, all cross-sections perpendicular to the axis of a cylinder are identical. The solid shown in [link] is an example of a cylinder with a noncircular base. To calculate the volume of a cylinder, then, we simply multiply the area of the cross-section by the height of the cylinder: [latex]V=A·h.[/latex] In the case of a right circular cylinder (soup can), this becomes [latex]V=\pi {r}^{2}h.[/latex]

Each cross-section of a particular cylinder is identical to the others.

If a solid does not have a constant cross-section (and it is not one of the other basic solids), we may not have a formula for its volume. In this case, we can use a definite integral to calculate the volume of the solid. We do this by slicing the solid into pieces, estimating the volume of each slice, and then adding those estimated volumes together. The slices should all be parallel to one another, and when we put all the slices together, we should get the whole solid. Consider, for example, the solid S shown in [link], extending along the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

A solid with a varying cross-section.

We want to divide [latex]S[/latex] into slices perpendicular to the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex] As we see later in the chapter, there may be times when we want to slice the solid in some other direction—say, with slices perpendicular to the y-axis. The decision of which way to slice the solid is very important. If we make the wrong choice, the computations can get quite messy. Later in the chapter, we examine some of these situations in detail and look at how to decide which way to slice the solid. For the purposes of this section, however, we use slices perpendicular to the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

Because the cross-sectional area is not constant, we let [latex]A\left(x\right)[/latex] represent the area of the cross-section at point [latex]x.[/latex] Now let [latex]P=\left\{{x}_{0},{x}_{1}\text{…},{X}_{n}\right\}[/latex] be a regular partition of [latex]\left[a,b\right],[/latex] and for [latex]i=1,2\text{,…}n,[/latex] let [latex]{S}_{i}[/latex] represent the slice of [latex]S[/latex] stretching from [latex]{x}_{i-1}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{x}_{i}.[/latex] The following figure shows the sliced solid with [latex]n=3.[/latex]

The solid [latex]S[/latex] has been divided into three slices perpendicular to the [latex]x\text{-axis}.[/latex]

Finally, for [latex]i=1,2\text{,…}n,[/latex] let [latex]{x}_{i}^{*}[/latex] be an arbitrary point in [latex]\left[{x}_{i-1},{x}_{i}\right].[/latex] Then the volume of slice [latex]{S}_{i}[/latex] can be estimated by [latex]V\left({S}_{i}\right)\approx A\left({x}_{i}^{*}\right)\text{Δ}x.[/latex] Adding these approximations together, we see the volume of the entire solid [latex]S[/latex] can be approximated by

By now, we can recognize this as a Riemann sum, and our next step is to take the limit as [latex]n\to \infty .[/latex] Then we have

The technique we have just described is called the slicing method. To apply it, we use the following strategy.

Recall that in this section, we assume the slices are perpendicular to the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex] Therefore, the area formula is in terms of x and the limits of integration lie on the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex] However, the problem-solving strategy shown here is valid regardless of how we choose to slice the solid.

Deriving the Formula for the Volume of a Pyramid

We know from geometry that the formula for the volume of a pyramid is [latex]V=\frac{1}{3}Ah.[/latex] If the pyramid has a square base, this becomes [latex]V=\frac{1}{3}{a}^{2}h,[/latex] where [latex]a[/latex] denotes the length of one side of the base. We are going to use the slicing method to derive this formula.

We want to apply the slicing method to a pyramid with a square base. To set up the integral, consider the pyramid shown in [link], oriented along the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

(a) A pyramid with a square base is oriented along the x-axis. (b) A two-dimensional view of the pyramid is seen from the side.

We first want to determine the shape of a cross-section of the pyramid. We are know the base is a square, so the cross-sections are squares as well (step 1). Now we want to determine a formula for the area of one of these cross-sectional squares. Looking at [link](b), and using a proportion, since these are similar triangles, we have

[latex]\frac{s}{a}=\frac{x}{h}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{or}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}s=\frac{ax}{h}.[/latex]

Therefore, the area of one of the cross-sectional squares is

[latex]A\left(x\right)={s}^{2}={\left(\frac{ax}{h}\right)}^{2}\left(\text{step}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}2\right).[/latex]

Then we find the volume of the pyramid by integrating from [latex]0\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}h[/latex] (step [latex]3\right)\text{:}[/latex]

[latex]\begin{array}{cc}\hfill V& =\underset{0}{\overset{h}{\int }}A\left(x\right)dx\hfill \\ & =\underset{0}{\overset{h}{\int }}{\left(\frac{ax}{h}\right)}^{2}dx=\frac{{a}^{2}}{{h}^{2}}\underset{0}{\overset{h}{\int }}{x}^{2}dx\hfill \\ & ={\left[\frac{{a}^{2}}{{h}^{2}}\left(\frac{1}{3}{x}^{3}\right)\right]\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}|}_{0}^{h}=\frac{1}{3}{a}^{2}h.\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

This is the formula we were looking for.

Solids of Revolution

If a region in a plane is revolved around a line in that plane, the resulting solid is called a solid of revolution, as shown in the following figure.

(a) This is the region that is revolved around the x-axis. (b) As the region begins to revolve around the axis, it sweeps out a solid of revolution. (c) This is the solid that results when the revolution is complete.

Solids of revolution are common in mechanical applications, such as machine parts produced by a lathe. We spend the rest of this section looking at solids of this type. The next example uses the slicing method to calculate the volume of a solid of revolution.

Using the Slicing Method to find the Volume of a Solid of Revolution

Use the slicing method to find the volume of the solid of revolution bounded by the graphs of [latex]f\left(x\right)={x}^{2}-4x+5,x=1,\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{and}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}x=4,[/latex] and rotated about the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

Using the problem-solving strategy, we first sketch the graph of the quadratic function over the interval [latex]\left[1,4\right][/latex] as shown in the following figure.

A region used to produce a solid of revolution.

Next, revolve the region around the x-axis, as shown in the following figure.

Two views, (a) and (b), of the solid of revolution produced by revolving the region in [link] about the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

Since the solid was formed by revolving the region around the [latex]x\text{-axis,}[/latex] the cross-sections are circles (step 1). The area of the cross-section, then, is the area of a circle, and the radius of the circle is given by [latex]f\left(x\right).[/latex] Use the formula for the area of the circle:

[latex]A\left(x\right)=\pi {r}^{2}=\pi {\left[f\left(x\right)\right]}^{2}=\pi {\left({x}^{2}-4x+5\right)}^{2}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{(step 2)}.[/latex]

The volume, then, is (step 3)

[latex]\begin{array}{cc}\hfill V& =\underset{a}{\overset{h}{\int }}A\left(x\right)dx\hfill \\ & ={\int }_{1}^{4}\pi {\left({x}^{2}-4x+5\right)}^{2}dx=\pi {\int }_{1}^{4}\left({x}^{4}-8{x}^{3}+26{x}^{2}-40x+25\right)dx\hfill \\ & ={\pi \left(\frac{{x}^{5}}{5}-2{x}^{4}+\frac{26{x}^{3}}{3}-20{x}^{2}+25x\right)|}_{1}^{4}=\frac{78}{5}\pi .\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

The volume is [latex]78\pi \text{/}5.[/latex]

Use the method of slicing to find the volume of the solid of revolution formed by revolving the region between the graph of the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=1\text{/}x[/latex] and the [latex]x\text{-axis}[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[1,2\right][/latex] around the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex] See the following figure.

[latex]\frac{\pi }{2}[/latex]

Hint

Use the problem-solving strategy presented earlier and follow [link] to help with step 2.

The Disk Method

When we use the slicing method with solids of revolution, it is often called the disk method because, for solids of revolution, the slices used to over approximate the volume of the solid are disks. To see this, consider the solid of revolution generated by revolving the region between the graph of the function [latex]f\left(x\right)={\left(x-1\right)}^{2}+1[/latex] and the [latex]x\text{-axis}[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[-1,3\right][/latex] around the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex] The graph of the function and a representative disk are shown in [link](a) and (b). The region of revolution and the resulting solid are shown in [link](c) and (d).

(a) A thin rectangle for approximating the area under a curve. (b) A representative disk formed by revolving the rectangle about the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex] (c) The region under the curve is revolved about the [latex]x\text{-axis},[/latex] resulting in (d) the solid of revolution.

We already used the formal Riemann sum development of the volume formula when we developed the slicing method. We know that

The only difference with the disk method is that we know the formula for the cross-sectional area ahead of time; it is the area of a circle. This gives the following rule.

The volume of the solid we have been studying ([link]) is given by

Let’s look at some examples.

Using the Disk Method to Find the Volume of a Solid of Revolution 1

Use the disk method to find the volume of the solid of revolution generated by rotating the region between the graph of [latex]f\left(x\right)=\sqrt{x}[/latex] and the [latex]x\text{-axis}[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[1,4\right][/latex] around the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

The graphs of the function and the solid of revolution are shown in the following figure.

(a) The function [latex]f\left(x\right)=\sqrt{x}[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[1,4\right].[/latex] (b) The solid of revolution obtained by revolving the region under the graph of [latex]f\left(x\right)[/latex] about the [latex]x\text{-axis}.[/latex]

We have

[latex]\begin{array}{cc}\hfill V& ={\int }_{a}^{b}\pi {\left[f\left(x\right)\right]}^{2}dx\hfill \\ & ={\int }_{1}^{4}\pi {\left[\sqrt{x}\right]}^{2}dx=\pi {\int }_{1}^{4}x\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}dx\hfill \\ & ={\frac{\pi }{2}{x}^{2}|}_{1}^{4}=\frac{15\pi }{2}.\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

The volume is [latex]\left(15\pi \right)\text{/}2[/latex] units³.

So far, our examples have all concerned regions revolved around the [latex]x\text{-axis,}[/latex] but we can generate a solid of revolution by revolving a plane region around any horizontal or vertical line. In the next example, we look at a solid of revolution that has been generated by revolving a region around the [latex]y\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex] The mechanics of the disk method are nearly the same as when the [latex]x\text{-axis}[/latex] is the axis of revolution, but we express the function in terms of [latex]y[/latex] and we integrate with respect to y as well. This is summarized in the following rule.

The next example shows how this rule works in practice.

Using the Disk Method to Find the Volume of a Solid of Revolution 2

Let [latex]R[/latex] be the region bounded by the graph of [latex]g\left(y\right)=\sqrt{4-y}[/latex] and the [latex]y\text{-axis}[/latex] over the [latex]y\text{-axis}[/latex] interval [latex]\left[0,4\right].[/latex] Use the disk method to find the volume of the solid of revolution generated by rotating [latex]R[/latex] around the [latex]y\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

[link] shows the function and a representative disk that can be used to estimate the volume. Notice that since we are revolving the function around the [latex]y\text{-axis,}[/latex] the disks are horizontal, rather than vertical.

(a) Shown is a thin rectangle between the curve of the function [latex]g\left(y\right)=\sqrt{4-y}[/latex] and the [latex]y\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex] (b) The rectangle forms a representative disk after revolution around the [latex]y\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

The region to be revolved and the full solid of revolution are depicted in the following figure.

(a) The region to the left of the function [latex]g\left(y\right)=\sqrt{4-y}[/latex] over the [latex]y\text{-axis}[/latex] interval [latex]\left[0,4\right].[/latex] (b) The solid of revolution formed by revolving the region about the [latex]y\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

To find the volume, we integrate with respect to [latex]y.[/latex] We obtain

[latex]\begin{array}{cc}\hfill V& ={\int }_{c}^{d}\pi {\left[g\left(y\right)\right]}^{2}dy\hfill \\ & ={\int }_{0}^{4}\pi {\left[\sqrt{4-y}\right]}^{2}dy=\pi {\int }_{0}^{4}\left(4-y\right)dy\hfill \\ & ={\pi \left[4y-\frac{{y}^{2}}{2}\right]\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}|}_{0}^{4}=8\pi .\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

The volume is [latex]8\pi [/latex] units³.

The Washer Method

Some solids of revolution have cavities in the middle; they are not solid all the way to the axis of revolution. Sometimes, this is just a result of the way the region of revolution is shaped with respect to the axis of revolution. In other cases, cavities arise when the region of revolution is defined as the region between the graphs of two functions. A third way this can happen is when an axis of revolution other than the [latex]x\text{-axis}[/latex] or [latex]y\text{-axis}[/latex] is selected.

When the solid of revolution has a cavity in the middle, the slices used to approximate the volume are not disks, but washers (disks with holes in the center). For example, consider the region bounded above by the graph of the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=\sqrt{x}[/latex] and below by the graph of the function [latex]g\left(x\right)=1[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[1,4\right].[/latex] When this region is revolved around the [latex]x\text{-axis,}[/latex] the result is a solid with a cavity in the middle, and the slices are washers. The graph of the function and a representative washer are shown in [link](a) and (b). The region of revolution and the resulting solid are shown in [link](c) and (d).

(a) A thin rectangle in the region between two curves. (b) A representative disk formed by revolving the rectangle about the [latex]x\text{-axis}.[/latex] (c) The region between the curves over the given interval. (d) The resulting solid of revolution.

The cross-sectional area, then, is the area of the outer circle less the area of the inner circle. In this case,

Then the volume of the solid is

Generalizing this process gives the washer method.

Using the Washer Method

Find the volume of a solid of revolution formed by revolving the region bounded above by the graph of [latex]f\left(x\right)=x[/latex] and below by the graph of [latex]g\left(x\right)=1\text{/}x[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[1,4\right][/latex] around the [latex]x\text{-axis}\text{.}[/latex]

The graphs of the functions and the solid of revolution are shown in the following figure.

(a) The region between the graphs of the functions [latex]f\left(x\right)=x[/latex] and [latex]g\left(x\right)=1\text{/}x[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[1,4\right].[/latex] (b) Revolving the region about the [latex]x\text{-axis}[/latex] generates a solid of revolution with a cavity in the middle.

We have

[latex]\begin{array}{cc}\hfill V& ={\int }_{a}^{b}\pi \left[{\left(f\left(x\right)\right)}^{2}-{\left(g\left(x\right)\right)}^{2}\right]dx\hfill \\ & =\pi {\int }_{1}^{4}\left[{x}^{2}-{\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)}^{2}\right]dx\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}={\pi \left[\frac{{x}^{3}}{3}+\frac{1}{x}\right]\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}|}_{1}^{4}=\frac{81\pi }{4}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{units}}^{3}.\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

As with the disk method, we can also apply the washer method to solids of revolution that result from revolving a region around the y-axis. In this case, the following rule applies.

Rather than looking at an example of the washer method with the [latex]y\text{-axis}[/latex] as the axis of revolution, we now consider an example in which the axis of revolution is a line other than one of the two coordinate axes. The same general method applies, but you may have to visualize just how to describe the cross-sectional area of the volume.

The Washer Method with a Different Axis of Revolution

Find the volume of a solid of revolution formed by revolving the region bounded above by [latex]f\left(x\right)=4-x[/latex] and below by the [latex]x\text{-axis}[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[0,4\right][/latex] around the line [latex]y=-2.[/latex]

The graph of the region and the solid of revolution are shown in the following figure.

(a) The region between the graph of the function [latex]f\left(x\right)=4-x[/latex] and the [latex]x\text{-axis}[/latex] over the interval [latex]\left[0,4\right].[/latex] (b) Revolving the region about the line [latex]y=-2[/latex] generates a solid of revolution with a cylindrical hole through its middle.

We can’t apply the volume formula to this problem directly because the axis of revolution is not one of the coordinate axes. However, we still know that the area of the cross-section is the area of the outer circle less the area of the inner circle. Looking at the graph of the function, we see the radius of the outer circle is given by [latex]f\left(x\right)+2,[/latex] which simplifies to

[latex]f\left(x\right)+2=\left(4-x\right)+2=6-x.[/latex]

The radius of the inner circle is [latex]g\left(x\right)=2.[/latex] Therefore, we have

[latex]\begin{array}{cc}\hfill V& ={\int }_{0}^{4}\pi \left[{\left(6-x\right)}^{2}-{\left(2\right)}^{2}\right]dx\hfill \\ & =\pi {\int }_{0}^{4}\left({x}^{2}-12x+32\right)dx\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}={\pi \left[\frac{{x}^{3}}{3}-6{x}^{2}+32x\right]\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}|}_{0}^{4}=\frac{160\pi }{3}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{units}}^{3}.\hfill \end{array}[/latex]