Lecture 12 - Shell Method
In the previous lecture we learned how to find volumes of revolution using the
Disk Method and the Washer Method. In this lecture we will learn another
method, the Shell Method, to find volumes of revolution.
Example 1: Find the volume of the solid formed by rotating the region be-
√
tween the curves y = x and y = x about the y-axis.
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Shell Method: Let R be the region bounded by y = f (x) and y = g(x)
between x = a and x = b. The volume of the solid formed by revolving R
about the y-axis is given by
Z b
V = 2π x [f (x) − g(x)] dx
a
where f (x) is the “top” function and g(x) is the “bottom” function.
Example 2: Use the Shell Method to find the volume of the solid formed by
1
rotating the region between y = 3 , x = 1, x = 2, and y = 0 about the y-axis.
x
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Example 3: Use the Shell Method to find the volume of the solid formed by
rotating the region between the curves y = 2x − x2 and y = 0 about the line
x = 4.
Example 4: Use the Shell Method to find the volume of the solid formed by
√
rotating the region between y = x, y = 0, and x = 1 about the line x = −1.
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Volumes of revolution can often be found by using either the Disk/Washer
Method or the Shell Method, but often one method is easier than the other.
Example 5: Let R be the region in the first quadrant bounded by y = cos x,
y = 0, and x = 0, and let S be the solid formed by revolving R about the x-
axis. Write down integrals using both the Shell Method and the Disk Method
that give the volume of S.
Example 6: Let R be the region in the first quadrant bounded by y = x2,
y = 2, y = 3, and x = 0, and let S be the solid formed by revolving R about
the x-axis. Write down integrals using both the Shell Method and the Washer
Method that give the volume of S.
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Should we use the Shell Method or the Washer Method when trying to find a
volume of revolution? It depends.
If the variable used in your function is the same as the variable used to
describe the axis (e.g. y = f (x), about x-axis), then it’s typically best to
use the Washer/Disk method.
If the variable used in your function is the opposite of the variable used
to describe the axis (e.g. y = f (x), about y-axis), then it’s typically best
to use the Shell method.
Make sure the integral you have set up can be integrated using the tech-
niques we have learned. Sometimes the “harder” method will yield an
integral that is easier to evaluate.
The following table summarizes these guidelines:
Revolve about x-axis Revolve about y-axis
y = f (x)
x = f (y)
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Extra Problems:
1. Use the Shell Method to find the volume of a hemisphere of radius r. (so-
2
lution: πr3)
3
2. Use the Shell Method to find the volume of the solid formed by rotating
√
the region bounded by y = sin (x2), y = 0, x = 0, and x = π about the
y-axis. (solution: 2π)
3. Use the Shell Method to find the volume of the solid formed by rotating the
region bounded by y = x3, y = 8, and x = 0 about the x-axis. (solution:
768π/7)
4. Use the Shell Method to find the volume of the solid formed by rotating
√
the region bounded by y = x and y = x about the line x = 2. (solution:
8π/15)
5. Use the Shell Method to find the volume of the solid formed by rotating the
√
region bounded by y = x and y = x about the line y = −2. (solution:
5π/6)
6. Let R be the region bounded by the curve y = 1 − (x − 3)2 and the x-axis,
and let V be the volume of the solid formed by rotating R about the y-axis.
Find V using both the Shell Method and the Washer Method. (solution:
8π)
7. Find the volume of the solid formed by rotating the region bounded by
1
y= , x = 1, and y = 1 about the line x = −3. (solution: π(5−4 ln 2))
x+1
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