Chapter 6: Applications of Double Integration
Section 6.5: First Moments
Example 6.5.3
If a,b,c are positive, and a>b, determine the coordinates of the centroid of the triangle whose vertices are 0,0,a,0,b,c.
Solution
Mathematical Solution
The labeled triangle in Figure 6.5.3(a) is representative, and the equations of the two non-horizontal sides are obtained by an elementary application of the point-slope form of the straight line.
The simplest iteration of the requisite double integrals uses the order dy dx, and requires two separate integrals to cover the whole triangle. (This is true even for iteration in the opposite order.)
The centroid of a triangle is the intersection of the medians; the coordinates are
x&conjugate0;,y&conjugate0;=13∑k=13xk,13∑k=13yk
Figure 6.5.3(a) Representative triangle
where xk,yk,k=1,2,3, are the three vertices of the triangle. For the representative triangle in Figure 6.5.3(a), the centroid has coordinates a+b/3,c/3.
Maple Solution - Interactive
Obtain the equations of the edges of the triangle in Figure 6.5.3(a)
Tools≻Load Package: Student Precalculus
Loading Student:-Precalculus
Context Panel: Student Precalculus≻Lines and Segments≻Line≻Equation
Context Panel: Simplify≻Simplify (if needed)
0,0,b,c→equation of liney=c⁢xb
a,0,b,c→equation of liney=−c⁢x−b+a+c⁢a−b+a= simplify y=c⁢a−x−b+a
Calculations for the centroid are given in Table 6.5.3(a).
Total area
Calculus palette: Iterated double-integral template Press the Enter key.
Context Panel: Simplify≻Simplify
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻A
∫0b∫0c x/b1 ⅆy ⅆx+∫ba∫0c x−a/b−a1 ⅆy ⅆx
12⁢c⁢b+12⁢c⁢a2−b2b−a−a⁢c⁢−b+ab−a
= simplify
12⁢a⁢c
→assign to a name
A
First Moments
Context Panel: Assign to a Name≻Mx (or My, as appropriate)
∫0b∫0c x/by ⅆy ⅆx+∫ba∫0c x−a/b−ay ⅆy ⅆx
16⁢c2⁢b+16⁢c2⁢a3−b3b−a2−12⁢c2⁢a⁢a2−b2b−a2+12⁢c2⁢a2⁢−b+ab−a2
16⁢c2⁢a
Mx
∫0b∫0c x/bx ⅆy ⅆx+∫ba∫0c x−a/b−ax ⅆy ⅆx
13⁢c⁢b2+13⁢c⁢a3−b3b−a−12⁢a⁢c⁢a2−b2b−a
16⁢a+b⁢a⁢c
My
Coordinates of centroid x&conjugate0;,y&conjugate0;
Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
MyA,MxA = 13⁢a+13⁢b,13⁢c
Table 6.5.3(a) Calculations for the centroid of the triangle in Figure 6.5.3(a)
Maple Solution - Coded
Initialize
Tools≻Load Package: Student Multivariate Calculus
Loading Student:-MultivariateCalculus
Obtain the area of the triangle
Use the MultiInt command in the Student MultivariateCalculus package, and the simplify command.
MultiInt1,x,y=Triangle0,0,a,0,b,c,output=integral assuming b>0,b<a,c>0;A≔simplifyMultiInt1,x,y=Triangle0,0,a,0,b,c assuming b>0,b<a,c>0
Obtain Mx, the first moment about the x-axis
MultiInty,x,y=Triangle0,0,a,0,b,c,output=integral assuming b>0,b<a,c>0;Mx≔simplifyMultiInty,x,y=Triangle0,0,a,0,b,c assuming b>0,b<a,c>0
Obtain My, the first moment about the y-axis
MultiIntx,x,y=Triangle0,0,a,0,b,c,output=integral assuming b>0,b<a,c>0;My≔simplifyMultiIntx,x,y=Triangle0,0,a,0,b,c assuming b>0,b<a,c>0
16⁢a+b⁢c⁢a
Obtain x&conjugate0;,y&conjugate0;, the coordinates of the centroid
Implement the relevant arithmetic.
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