While changing variables from x, y to r, theta in a double integral, if original limits go from -infinite to
+infinite, then what would new limits go to?
Please explain step by step.
When changing variables from Cartesian coordinates (x, y) to polar coordinates (r, θ) in a double integral, the
limits of integration need to be adjusted accordingly. If the original limits for x and y extend from negative
infinity to positive infinity, it typically implies that you are integrating over the entire plane. In polar
coordinates, the corresponding region would be described using the radial coordinate (r) and the angular
coordinate (θ).
Let's go through the process step by step:
Original double integral:
∫−∞∞∫−∞∞f(x,y)dxdy
Now, let's express the Cartesian coordinates (x, y) in terms of polar coordinates (r, θ):
x=rcos(θ)
y=rsin(θ)
Next, we need to express the differential area element dxdy in terms of polar
coordinates. The area element in Cartesian coordinates is dxdy, and in polar
coordinates, it becomes rdrdθ. Therefore:
dxdy=rdrdθ
Now, substitute these expressions into the original integral:
∫−∞∞∫−∞∞f(x,y)dxdy=∫02π∫0∞f(rcos(θ),rsin(θ))rdrdθ
In polar coordinates, the limits for r typically start from 0
to ∞,
and the limits for θ range from 0 to 2π to cover the entire
plane.
So, when changing variables from x, y to r, θ in a double integral where the original limits are from −∞ to +∞, the new limits become:
∫−∞∞∫−∞∞f(x,y)dxdy
becomes
∫02π∫0∞f(rcos(θ),rsin(θ))rdrdθ