Section 7.

3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

Let S be the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by y = f (x) [where f is
continuous and f (x) 0], y = 0, x = a, and x = b, where b > a 0.

The volume of the solid in the figure above, obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region under the
curve y = f (x) from a to b, is
V =

2xf (x)dx where 0 a < b

The best way to remember the above formula is to think of a typical shell, cut and flattened as in the
figure below, with radius x, circumference 2x, height f (x), and thickness x or dx:
Z b
(2x) [f (x)] dx
| {z } | {z }
a
circumference

height

EXAMPLE: Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by
y = 2x2 x3 and the x-axis.
1

Section 7.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLE: Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by
y = 2x2 x3 and the x-axis.

Solution: We have
2(radius)(height) = 2 x (2x2 x3 ) = 2(2x3 x4 )

Note that 2x2 x3 = 0 if x = 0, 2. Therefore

V =

2
3

2(2x x )dx = 2

x4 x5

(2x x )dx = 2
2
5
3

2
0

16
5

EXAMPLE: Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by
y = (x 1)(x 3)2 and the x-axis.

Section 7.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLE: Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the y-axis the region bounded by
y = (x 1)(x 3)2 and the x-axis.

Solution: We have
2(radius)(height) = 2 x (x 1)(x 3)2 = 2(x4 7x3 + 15x2 9x)
Note that (x 1)(x 3)2 = 0 if x = 1, 3. Therefore
Z 3
V =
2(x4 7x3 + 15x2 9x)dx
1

= 2

x5 7x4
9x2
(x 7x + 15x 9x)dx = 2

+ 5x3
5
4
2
4

3
1

24
5

EXAMPLE:
Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the x-axis the region bounded by

3
y = x, x = 8 and the x-axis.

Section 7.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLE:
Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the x-axis the region bounded by

y = 3 x, x = 8 and the x-axis.

Solution 1 (Discs): We have

A(x) = (x1/3 )2 = x2/3
therefore
V

A(x)dx =
0

8
2/3

x2/3+1
dx =
2/3 + 1

Solution 2 (Shells): We have

y=

8
0

3
= x5/3
5

8
0

3
96
= 85/3 =
5
5

x = x = y 3

hence
2(radius)(width) = 2 y (8 y 3 ) = 2(8y y 4 )

Note that 8y y 4 = 0 if y = 0, 2. Therefore

V =

2
4

2(8y y )dy = 2

y5
(8y y )dy = 2 4y
5
4

2
0

96
5

EXAMPLE:
Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the line x = 6 the region bounded
by y = 2 x 1 and y = x 1.

Section 7.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLE:
Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the line x = 6 the region bounded
by y = 2 x 1 and y = x 1.

Solution 1 (Shells): We have

2(radius)(height) = 2 (6 x) (2 x 1 x + 1)

= 2(x2 7x + 6 + 12 x 1 2x x 1)

Note that 2 x 1 = x 1 if x = 1, 5. Therefore

Z 5

V =
2(x2 7x + 6 + 12 x 1 2x x 1)dx
1

= 2

5
1

(x2 7x + 6 + 12 x 1 2x x 1)dx

x3 7x2
4
4
= 2

+ 6x + 8(x 1)3/2 (x 1)3/2 (x 1)5/2

3
2
3
5
=

272
15
5

5
1

Section 7.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Solution 2 (Discs): We have

y2
y = 2 x 1 = x =
+1
4
y =x1

hence
2
2
A(y) = Rbig
Rsmall

Note that

= x = y + 1

!
2

 2
y
2
2
2
+1
[6 (y + 1)]
= (Rbig
Rsmall
) =
6
4
!

2
y2
2
=
5
(5 y)
4


1 4 7 2
=
y y + 10y
16
2

y2
+ 1 = y + 1 if y = 0, 4. Therefore
4
4

 5
Z 4
Z 4 
1 4 7 2
272
y
7y 3
2
V =
A(y)dy =

=
y y + 10y dy =

+ 5y
16
2
80
6
15
0
0
0

EXAMPLE: Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the line y = 1 the region bounded
by x = (y 2)2 and y = x.

Section 7.3 Volumes by Cylindrical Shells

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLE: Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating about the line y = 1 the region bounded
by x = (y 2)2 and y = x.

Solution: We have
2(radius)(width) = 2 (y + 1) (y (y 2)2 ) = 2(y 3 + 4y 2 + y 4)
Note that (y 2)2 = y if y = 1, 4. Therefore
Z 4
V =
2(y 3 + 4y 2 + y 4)dy
1

= 2

4
1

(y 3 + 4y 2 + y 4)dy

y 4 4y 3 y 2
+
4y
= 2 +
4
3
2
=

63
2

4
1