Multivariable Calculus · Question of the Day

Multivariable Calculus Question of the Day

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Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Consider the surface SS that is the portion of the cylinder x2+z2=4x^2 + z^2 = 4 with 0y30 \leq y \leq 3 and z0z \geq 0. For the scalar field g(x,y,z)=yzg(x,y,z) = yz, which expression correctly represents the surface integral SgdS\iint_S g \, dS?

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Question of the Day

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Consider the surface SS that is the portion of the cylinder x2+z2=4x^2 + z^2 = 4 with 0y30 \leq y \leq 3 and z0z \geq 0. For the scalar field g(x,y,z)=yzg(x,y,z) = yz, which expression correctly represents the surface integral SgdS\iint_S g \, dS?

  1. 0322yz1+(x4x2)2dxdy\int_0^3 \int_{-2}^2 yz \sqrt{1 + \left(\frac{-x}{\sqrt{4-x^2}}\right)^2} \, dx \, dy
  2. 030π2ysinθ2dθdy\int_0^3 \int_0^\pi 2y\sin\theta \cdot 2 \, d\theta \, dy (correct answer)
  3. 0322yzdxdy\int_0^3 \int_{-2}^2 yz \, dx \, dy where z=4x2z = \sqrt{4-x^2}
  4. 0π032ysinθdydθ\int_0^\pi \int_0^3 2y\sin\theta \, dy \, d\theta

Explanation: Using cylindrical coordinates with x=2cosθx = 2\cos\theta, z=2sinθz = 2\sin\theta for 0θπ0 \leq \theta \leq \pi and 0y30 \leq y \leq 3. The parameterization is r(θ,y)=(2cosθ,y,2sinθ)\mathbf{r}(\theta,y) = (2\cos\theta, y, 2\sin\theta). We get rθ=(2sinθ,0,2cosθ)\mathbf{r}_\theta = (-2\sin\theta, 0, 2\cos\theta) and ry=(0,1,0)\mathbf{r}_y = (0, 1, 0). The magnitude rθ×ry=2|\mathbf{r}_\theta \times \mathbf{r}_y| = 2. On the surface, g=yz=y2sinθg = yz = y \cdot 2\sin\theta. The integral becomes 030π2ysinθ2dθdy\int_0^3 \int_0^\pi 2y\sin\theta \cdot 2 \, d\theta \, dy. Choice A uses the wrong surface element calculation. Choice C omits the surface element entirely. Choice D has the correct integrand but wrong bounds and missing factor of 2.