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Exercise 379Calculus › Multivariable calculus › Multiple integralsL1Added 2 Nov 2026

Double integral over a triangular domain

#double integral#iterated integration#triangular domain

Statement

Let D={(x,y)∈R2:x≥0,y≥0,x+y≤1}D = \{(x,y) \in \mathbb{R}^2 : x \ge 0, y \ge 0, x+y \le 1\}. Compute
∬D(x2+y2) dx dy.\iint_D (x^2 + y^2) \, dx \, dy.

Hint

Integrate first in yy for fixed xx, with 0≤y≤1−x0 \le y \le 1-x, then in xx on [0,1][0,1].

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Solution

Setup.
∬D(x2+y2) dx dy=∫01(∫01−x(x2+y2) dy)dx.\iint_D (x^2+y^2) \, dx \, dy = \int_0^1 \left( \int_0^{1-x} (x^2+y^2) \, dy \right) dx.

Integration in yy.
∫01−x(x2+y2) dy=x2(1−x)+(1−x)33.\int_0^{1-x} (x^2+y^2) \, dy = x^2(1-x) + \frac{(1-x)^3}{3}.

Integration in xx.
∫01(x2(1−x)+(1−x)33)dx=[x33−x44−(1−x)412]01.\int_0^1 \left( x^2(1-x) + \frac{(1-x)^3}{3} \right) dx = \left[ \frac{x^3}{3} - \frac{x^4}{4} - \frac{(1-x)^4}{12} \right]_0^1.
At x=1x=1: 13−14−0=112\frac13 - \frac14 - 0 = \frac{1}{12}. At x=0x=0: 0−0−112=−1120 - 0 - \frac{1}{12} = -\frac{1}{12}. Hence
∬D(x2+y2) dx dy=112−(−112)=16.\iint_D (x^2+y^2) \, dx \, dy = \frac{1}{12} - \left(-\frac{1}{12}\right) = \frac16.

Remark. This is consistent with the area of the triangle (1/21/2) and the symmetry of the domain.