SECTION 12.
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
Just as we defined single integrals for functions
of one variable and double integrals for
functions of two variables, so we can define
triple integrals for functions of three variables.
Let’s first deal with the simplest case where f is
defined on a rectangular box:
B x, y, z a x b, c y d , r z s
12.5 P2
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
The first step is to divide B into sub-boxes—by
dividing:
The interval [a, b] into l subintervals [xi–1, xi] of
equal width Δxi = xi – xi–1.
[c, d] into m subintervals of width Δyj = yj – yj–1.
[r, s] into n subintervals of width Δzk = zk – zk–1.
12.5 P3
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
The planes through the
endpoints of these
subintervals parallel to the
coordinate planes divide the
box B into lmn sub-boxes
Bijk xi 1 , xi y j 1 , y j
zk 1 , zk
which are shown in Figure 1.
Each sub-box Bijk has volume
ΔVijk = ΔxiΔyjΔzk
12.5 P4
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
Then, we form the triple Riemann sum
ijk ijk ijk Vijk
l m n
* * *
f x , y , z
i 1 j 1 k 1
where the sample point xijk* *
, yijk *
, zijk is in Bijk.
By analogy with the definition of a double
integral (Definition 5 in Section 12.1), we
define the triple integral as the limit of the triple
Riemann sums in Equation 2.
12.5 P5
Definition 3
The triple integral of f over the box B is:
f x, y, z dV
B
f xijk Vijk
l m n
lim
max xi , y j , zk 0
i 1 j 1 k 1
* *
, yijk *
, zijk
if this limit exists.
Again, the triple integral always exists if f is
continuous.
12.5 P6
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
We can choose the sample point to be any point
in the sub-box.
However, if we choose it to be the point
(xi, yj, zk) we get a simpler-looking expression:
f x , y , z V
l m n
f x, y, z dV
B
lim
l , m , n
i 1 j 1 k 1
i j k
12.5 P7
TRIPLE INTEGRALS
Just as for double integrals, the practical method
for evaluating triple integrals is to express them
as iterated integrals, as follows.
12.5 P8
FUBINI’S THEOREM FOR TRIPLE
INTEGRALS
If f is continuous on the rectangular box
B = [a, b] × [c, d] × [r, s],
then
f x, y, z dV
B
f x, y, z dx dy dz
s d b
r c a
12.5 P9
FUBINI’S THEOREM FOR TRIPLE INTEGRALS
The iterated integral on the right side of Fubini’s
Theorem means that we integrate in the
following order:
With respect to x (keeping y and z fixed)
With respect to y (keeping z fixed)
With respect to z
12.5 P10
FUBINI’S THEOREM FOR TRIPLE INTEGRALS
There are five other possible orders in which we
can integrate, all of which give the same value.
For instance, if we integrate with respect to y, then z,
and then x, we have:
f x, y, z dV
B
f x, y, z dy dz dx
b s d
a r c
12.5 P11
Example 1
Evaluate the triple integral
2
xyz dV
B
where B is the rectangular box
B x, y, z 0 x 1, 1 y 2, 0 z 3
12.5 P12
Example 1 SOLUTION
We could use any of the six possible orders of
integration.
If we choose to integrate with respect to x, then
y, and then z, we obtain
3 2 1
xyz dV
2
xyz 2 dx dy dz
0 1 0
B
x 1
3 x yz
2
2 2
3 2 yz
2
dy dz dy dz
0 1 0 1 2
2 x 0
y 2 3
y z
3
2 2
3 3z z 2
27 3
dz dz
0
4 y 1 0 4 4 0 4
12.5 P13
INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION
Now, we define the triple integral over a
general bounded region E in three-
dimensional space (a solid) by much the same
procedure that we used for double integrals.
See Definition 2 in Section 12.2.
12.5 P14
INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION
We enclose E in a box B of the type given by
Equation 1.
Then, we define a function F so that it agrees
with f on E but is 0 for points in B that are
outside E.
12.5 P15
INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION
By definition,
f x, y, z dV F x, y, z dV
E B
This integral exists if f is continuous and the
boundary of E is “reasonably smooth.”
The triple integral has essentially the same
properties as the double integral (Properties 6–9 in
Section 12.2).
12.5 P16
INTEGRAL OVER BOUNDED REGION
We restrict our attention to:
Continuous functions f
Certain simple types of regions
A solid region E is said to be of type 1 if it lies
between the graphs of two continuous functions
of x and y.
12.5 P17
TYPE 1 REGION
That is,
E x, y, z x, y D, u x, y z u x, y
1 2
where D is the projection of E onto the xy-plane
as shown in Figure 2.
12.5 P18
TYPE 1 REGIONS
Notice that:
The upper boundary of the solid E is the surface
with equation z = u2(x, y).
The lower boundary is the surface z = u1(x, y).
12.5 P19
TYPE 1 REGIONS
By the same sort of argument that led to
Formula 3 in Section 12.2, it can be shown that,
if E is a type 1 region given by Equation 5, then
u2 x , y
f x, y, z dV f x, y, z dz dA
E D
u1 x , y
12.5 P20
TYPE 1 REGIONS
The meaning of the inner integral on the right
side of Equation 6 is that x and y are held fixed.
Therefore,
u1(x, y) and u2(x, y) are regarded as constants.
f(x, y, z) is integrated with respect to z.
12.5 P21
TYPE 1 REGIONS
In particular, if the projection D of E onto the
xy-plane is a type I plane region (as in Figure 3),
then
E x, y, z a x b, g1 ( x) y g 2 ( x), u1 ( x, y) z u2 ( x, y)
12.5 P22
TYPE 1 REGIONS
Thus, Equation 6 becomes:
f x, y, z dV
E
f x, y, z dz dy dx
b g2 ( x ) u2 ( x , y )
a g1 ( x ) u1 ( x , y )
12.5 P23
TYPE 1 REGIONS
If, instead, D is a type II plane region (as in
Figure 4), then
E x, y, z c y d , h1 ( y ) x h2 ( y ), u1 ( x, y ) z u2 ( x, y )
12.5 P24
TYPE 1 REGIONS
Then, Equation 6 becomes:
f x, y, z dV
E
f x, y, z dz dx dy
d h2 ( y ) u2 ( x , y )
c h1 ( y ) u1 ( x , y )
12.5 P25
Example 2
Evaluate z dV
E
where E is the solid tetrahedron bounded by the
four planes
x = 0, y = 0, z = 0, x + y + z = 1
12.5 P26
Example 2 SOLUTION
When we set up a triple integral, it’s wise to
draw two diagrams:
The solid region E (See Figure 5)
Its projection D on the xy-plane (See Figure 6)
12.5 P27
Example 2 SOLUTION
The lower boundary of the tetrahedron is the
plane z = 0 and the upper boundary is the plane
x + y + z = 1 (or z = 1 – x – y).
So, we use u1(x, y) = 0 and u2(x, y) = 1 – x – y in
Formula 7.
12.5 P28
Example 2 SOLUTION
Notice that the planes x + y + z = 1 and z = 0
intersect in the line x + y = 1 (or y = 1 – x) in the
xy-plane.
So, the projection of E is the
triangular region shown in
Figure 6, and we have the
following equation.
12.5 P29
Example 2 SOLUTION
E x, y, z 0 x 1,0 y 1 x,0 z 1 x y
This description of E as a type 1 region enables us to
evaluate the integral as follows.
z 1 x y
1 1 x 1 x y 1 1 x z 2
z dV
E
0 0 0
z dz dy dx
0 0 2
z 0
dy dx
y 1 x
1 1 x 2 1 x y 3
1 x y dy dx 12 0
1
1
2
0 0
3
y 0
dx
1
1 1 x
4
1
1 x dx
1
1 3
6
0 6 4 0 24
12.5 P30
TYPE 2 REGION
A solid region E is of type 2 if it is of the form
E x, y, z y, z D, u ( y, z) x u ( y, z)
1 2
where D is the projection of E onto the yz-plane.
See Figure 7.
12.5 P31
TYPE 2 REGION
The back surface is x = u1(y, z).
The front surface is x = u2(y, z).
12.5 P32
TYPE 2 REGION
Thus, we have:
f x, y, z dV
E
u2 ( y , z )
f x, y, z dx dA
u1 ( y , z )
D
12.5 P33
TYPE 3 REGION
Finally, a type 3 region is of the form
E x, y, z x, z D, u ( x, z) y u x, z
1 2
where:
D is the projection of E
onto the xz-plane.
y = u1(x, z) is the left
surface.
y = u2(x, z) is the right
surface.
See Figure 8.
12.5 P34
TYPE 3 REGION
For this type of region, we have:
f x, y, z dV
u 2( x , z )
f x, y, z dy dA
E D
u1 ( x , z )
12.5 P35
TYPE 2 & 3 REGIONS
In each of Equations 10 and 11, there may be
two possible expressions for the integral
depending on:
Whether D is a type I or type II plane region (and
corresponding to Equations 7 and 8).
12.5 P36
Example 3
Evaluate
E
x 2 z 2 dV
where E is the region bounded by the paraboloid
y = x2 + z2 and the plane y = 4.
12.5 P37
Example 3 SOLUTION
The solid E is shown in Figure 9.
If we regard it as a type 1 region, then we need
to consider its projection D1 onto the xy-plane.
12.5 P38
Example 3 SOLUTION
That is the parabolic region shown in Figure 10.
The trace of y = x2 + z2 in the plane z = 0 is the
parabola y = x2
12.5 P39
Example 3 SOLUTION
From y = x2 + z2, we obtain:
z y x2
So, the lower boundary surface of E is:
z y x2
The upper surface is:
z y x2
12.5 P40
Example 3 SOLUTION
Therefore, the description of E as a type 1
region is:
E x, y , z 2 x 2, x 2
y 4, y x 2
z y x 2
Thus, we obtain:
2 4 y x2
E
x 2 y 2 dV
2 x 2 y x2
x 2 z 2 dz dy dx
Although this expression is correct, it is extremely
difficult to evaluate.
12.5 P41
Example 3 SOLUTION
So, let’s instead consider E as a type 3 region.
As such, its projection D3 onto the xz-plane is the
disk x2 + z2 ≤ 4 shown in Figure 11.
12.5 P42
Example 3 SOLUTION
Then, the left boundary of E is the paraboloid
y = x2 + z2.
The right boundary is the plane y = 4.
So, taking u1(x, z) = x2 + z2 and u2(x, z) = 4 in
Equation 11, we have:
x y dV 2 2 x 2 z 2 dy dA
4
2 2
x z
E D 3
4 x z
2 2
x z dA
2 2
D3
12.5 P43
Example 3 SOLUTION
This integral could be written as:
4 x
2 4 x2
z x z dz dx
2 2 2 2
2 4 x 2
However, it’s easier to convert to polar
coordinates in the xz-plane:
x = r cos , z = r sin
12.5 P44
Example 3 SOLUTION
That gives:
x z dV
2 2
4 x z r r dr d
2 2
2 2
x z dA
2 2
4 r 2
0 0
D3
2
4r r 128
3 5
d 4r r dr 2
2 2
2 4
0 0
3 5 0 15
12.5 P45
Example 4
Express the iterated integral
x2
f x, y, z dz dy dx
1 y
0 0 0
as a triple integral and then rewrite it as iterated
integral in a different order, integrating first
with respect to x, then z, and then y.
12.5 P46
Example 4 SOLUTION
We can write
x2
f x, y, z dz dy dx f x, y, z dV
1 y
0 0 0
E
where
E x, y , z 0 x 1, 0 y x 2
, 0 z y
12.5 P47
Example 4 SOLUTION
This description of E enable us to write
projections onto the three coordinate planes as
follows：
on the xy -plane D1 x, y 0 x 1, 0 y x 2
x, y 0 y 1, y x 1
on the yz -plane D2 x, y 0 y 1, 0 z y
on the xz -plane D3 x, y 0 x 1, 0 z x2
12.5 P48
Example 4 SOLUTION
From the resulting of the projections in Figure
12 we sketch the solid E in Figure 13.
12.5 P49
Example 4 SOLUTION
We see that it is the solid enclosed by the planes
z 0, x 1, y z and the parabolic cylinder
y x (or x y ) .
2
If we integrate first with respect to x, then z, and
then y, we use an alternate description of E：
E x, y, z 0 x 1, 0 z y, y x 1
Thus
f x, y, z dV f x, y, z dx dz dy
1 y 1
0 0 y
E
12.5 P50
APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
Recall that:
b
If f(x) ≥ 0, then the single integral f ( x) dx represents
a
the area under the curve y = f(x) from a to b.
If f(x, y) ≥ 0, then the double integral f ( x, y) dA
D
represents the volume under the surface z = f(x, y) and
above D.
12.5 P51
APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
The corresponding interpretation of a triple
integral f ( x, y, z ) dV, where f(x, y, z) ≥ 0, is
E
not very useful.
It would be the “hypervolume” of a four-dimensional
(4-D) object.
Of course, that is very difficult to visualize.
12.5 P52
APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
Remember that E is just the domain of the
function f.
The graph of f lies in 4-D space.
12.5 P53
APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
Nonetheless, the triple integral E f ( x, y, z ) dV
can be interpreted in different ways in different
physical situations.
This depends on the physical interpretations of x, y,
z and f(x, y, z).
12.5 P54
APPLNS. OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
Let’s begin with the special case where
f(x, y, z) = 1 for all points in E.
Then, the triple integral does represent the
volume of E:
V E dV
E
12.5 P55
APPLNS. OF TRIPLE INTEGRALS
For example, you can see this in the case of a
type 1 region by putting f(x, y, z) = 1 in Formula
6:
u2 ( x , y )
dA u ( x, y ) u ( x, y ) dA
E
1 dV
D
u1 ( x , y )
dz
D
2 1
From Section 12.2, we know this represents the
volume that lies between the surfaces
z = u1(x, y) and z = u2(x, y)
12.5 P56
Example 5
Use a triple integral to find the volume of the
tetrahedron T bounded by the planes
x + 2y + z = 2
x = 2y
x=0
z=0
12.5 P57
Example 5 SOLUTION
The tetrahedron T and its projection D on the
xy-plane are shown in Figure 14 and 15.
12.5 P58
Example 5 SOLUTION
The lower boundary of T is the plane z = 0.
The upper boundary is the plane x + 2y + z = 2,
that is, z = 2 – x – 2y
12.5 P59
Example 5 SOLUTION
So, we have:
1 1 x / 2 2 x 2 y
V T dV dz dy dx
0 x/2 0
T
1 1 x / 2
0
x/2
2 x 2 y dy dx
13
This is obtained by the same calculation as in
Example 4 in Section 12.2
12.5 P60
Example 5 SOLUTION
Notice that it is not necessary to use triple
integrals to compute volumes.
They simply give an alternative method for setting
up the calculation.
12.5 P61
APPLICATIONS
All the applications of double integrals in
Section 12.4 can be immediately extended to
triple integrals.
12.5 P62
APPLICATIONS
For example, suppose the density function of a
solid object that occupies the region E is:
r(x, y, z)
in units of mass per unit volume, at any given
point (x, y, z).
Then, its mass is:
m r x, y, z dV
E
12.5 P63
MOMENTS
Its moments about the three coordinate planes
are:
M yz x r x, y, z dV
E
M xz y r x, y, z dV
E
M xy z r x, y, z dV
E
12.5 P64
CENTER OF MASS
The center of mass is located at the point
x , y , z , where:
M yz M xz M xy
x y z
m m m
If the density is constant, the center of mass of the
solid is called the centroid of E.
12.5 P65
MOMENTS OF INERTIA
The moments of inertia about the three
coordinate axes are:
I x y 2 z 2 r x, y, z dV
E
I y x z
2 2
r x, y, z dV
E
I z x 2 y 2 r x, y, z dV
E
12.5 P66
TOTAL ELECTRIC CHARGE
As in Section 12.4, the total electric charge on
a solid object occupying a region E and having
charge density s(x, y, z) is:
Q s x, y, z dV
E
12.5 P67
Example 6
Find the center of mass of a solid of constant
density that is bounded by the parabolic cylinder
x = y2 and the planes x = z, z = 0, and x = 1.
12.5 P68
Example 6 SOLUTION
The solid E and its
projection onto the xy-
plane are shown in Figure
16.
12.5 P69
Example 6 SOLUTION
The lower and upper surfaces of E are the
planes z = 0 and z = x.
So, we describe E as a type 1 region:
E
x, y , z 1 y 1, y 2
x 1,0 z x
12.5 P70
Example 6 SOLUTION
Then, if the density is r(x, y, z) = r, the mass is:
1 1 x
m r dV r dz dx dy
1 y 2
0
E
x 1
1 1 x 1
2
r 2 x dx dy r dy
1 y 1 2
x y2
r
1 y dy r 1 y dy
1 1
4 4
2 1 0
1
y 4r 5
r y
5 0 5
12.5 P71
Example 6 SOLUTION
Due to the symmetry of E and r about the xz-
plane, we can immediately say that Mxz = 0, and
therefore y 0.
The other moments are calculated as follows.
12.5 P72
Example 6 SOLUTION
1 1 x
M yz x r dV x r dz dx dy
1 y 2
0
E
x 1
1 1 x 1
3
r 2 x dx dy r dy
2
1 y 1 3
x y2
1
2r 2r y 7
0 1 y dy 3
1
6
y 7
3 0
4r
7
12.5 P73
Example 6 SOLUTION
1 1 x
M xy z r dV z r dz dx dy
1 y 2
0
E
zx
1 z
1
2
r 2 dx dy
1 y
2 z 0
r 1 1
2
2
x dx dy
1 y 2
r 2r
1 y dy
1
6
3 0 7
12.5 P74
Example 6 SOLUTION
Therefore, the center of mass is:
x, y, z
M yz M xz M xy
, ,
m m m
5 5
, 0,
7 14
12.5 P75
