Steply

Volume of y = 2 - x turned around the x-axis from x = 0 to x = 2

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Volumes by disks and washers · Calculus 2

Step by step

The question

Question: find the volume when y = −x + 2 from x = 0 to x = 2 turns around the x-axis.

y = −x + 2

1 Draw and turn it

Draw the curve first.

The region under the curve, from x = 0 to x = 2, is shaded.

2 One slice

Cut the solid into thin slices.

Each slice is a disk: a very flat cylinder.

Its radius is the height of the curve: r = −x + 2.

Its thickness is a tiny dx.

r = −x + 2

A cylinder is its circle's area times its thickness.

So one slice is π r² dx.

slice = πr2 dx

3 Write the integral

Add up all the slices from 0 to 2: that is an integral.

π is just a number, so it waits in front.

V = π∫ from 0 to 2 of (−x + 2)2 dx

Careful!

Square the radius!

A circle's area is π r squared, not π r.

Careful: not V = π∫ from 0 to 2 of −x + 2 dx ✗

4 Square it

Square the radius.

V = π∫ from 0 to 2 of (x2 − 4x + 4) dx

A bracket squared is the bracket times itself: multiply every part by every part.

(−x + 2)2 = (−x + 2)(−x + 2)
= x2 − 4x + 4

5 The antiderivative

The antiderivative: add 1 to each power, divide by the new power.

V = π[ x33 − 2x2 + 4x ] from 0 to 2

6 Top minus bottom

Put in 2, then take away the same with 0.

= π[(233 − 2(2)2 + 4(2)) − (033 − 2(0)2 + 4(0))]
= π[83 − 0]

So the volume is 8π over 3 cubic units.

That is about 8.38.

V = 8π3 ≈ 8.38

7 Check

Let's check with a calculator: it adds up 1000 thin disks.

That gives about 8.38, the same as our answer.

Right!

1000 thin disks: ≈ 8.38

Let's look back.

First: draw and turn it.

Then: one slice.

Then: write the integral.

Then: square it.

Then: the antiderivative.

Then: top minus bottom.

Last: check.

Answer
V = 8π3 ≈ 8.38

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

Find the volume when y = −x + 2
Show the answer
V = 16π3 ≈ 16.76

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