Steply

Volume of y = x^2 + 1 turned around the x-axis from x = 0 to x = 1

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 = x² + 1 from x = 0 to x = 1 turns around the x-axis.

y = x2 + 1

1 Draw and turn it

Draw the curve first.

The region under the curve, from x = 0 to x = 1, 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 = x² + 1.

Its thickness is a tiny dx.

r = x2 + 1

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 1: that is an integral.

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

V = π∫ from 0 to 1 of (x2 + 1)2 dx

Careful!

Square the radius!

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

Careful: not V = π∫ from 0 to 1 of x2 + 1 dx ✗

4 Square it

Square the radius.

V = π∫ from 0 to 1 of (x4 + 2x2 + 1) dx

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

(x2 + 1)2 = (x2 + 1)(x2 + 1)
= x4 + 2x2 + 1

5 The antiderivative

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

V = π[ x55 + 2x33 + x ] from 0 to 1

6 Top minus bottom

Put in 1, then take away the same with 0.

= π[(155 + 2(1)33 + 1) − (055 + 2(0)33 + 0)]
= π[2815 − 0]

So the volume is 28π over 15 cubic units.

That is about 5.86.

V = 28π15 ≈ 5.86

7 Check

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

That gives about 5.86, the same as our answer.

Right!

1000 thin disks: ≈ 5.86

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 = 28π15 ≈ 5.86

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

Find the volume when y = x2 + 2
Show the answer
V = 83π15 ≈ 17.38

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