Section 15.

6: Triple Integrals
As we move from double to triple integrals, we’ll see that the region over which we are
integrating changes from an area in the plane (2 dimensions) to a volume (3 dimensions). What
would motivate us to integrate over a volume? As an example, suppose we want to find the mass
of a cube with location-dependent density:
mass
𝐷𝐷𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 = 𝜌𝜌(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧), carrying units of
volume
If we define the cube as the 3-dimensional region B, then its mass is defined as follows:

𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 = � 𝜌𝜌(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝐵𝐵

Before evaluating a triple integral such as the one above, we’ll rewrite it as an iterated integral.

Fubini’s Theorem for Triple Integrals

If f is continuous on the rectangular box 𝐵𝐵 = [𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏] × [𝑐𝑐, 𝑑𝑑] × [𝑟𝑟, 𝑠𝑠], then
𝑧𝑧=𝑠𝑠 𝑦𝑦=𝑑𝑑 𝑥𝑥=𝑏𝑏
� 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � �� �� 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝐵𝐵 𝑧𝑧=𝑟𝑟 𝑦𝑦=𝑐𝑐 𝑥𝑥=𝑎𝑎

When evaluating the inside integral, we integrate with respect to x, keeping y and z fixed. Then
we integrate with respect to y, keeping z fixed. Finally we integrate with respect to z. This
integration can be done in any of the six possible orders, each achieving the same result.

Triple Integrals Over General Solid Regions

We can also evaluate a triple integral over a general bounded solid E (not just a rectangular box).
As an example, consider the figure at right, where
𝐸𝐸 = {(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) | 𝑐𝑐 ≤ 𝑦𝑦 ≤ 𝑑𝑑, ℎ1 (𝑦𝑦) ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ ℎ2 (𝑦𝑦), 𝑢𝑢1 (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) ≤ 𝑧𝑧 ≤ 𝑢𝑢2 (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦)}. Then

𝑑𝑑 ℎ2 (𝑦𝑦) 𝑢𝑢2 (𝑥𝑥,𝑦𝑦)

� 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � �� �� 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝐸𝐸 𝑐𝑐 ℎ1 (𝑦𝑦) 𝑢𝑢1 (𝑥𝑥,𝑦𝑦)

In this more general case, the shape of the solid will dictate the most
straightforward order of integration. Regardless of the order, it is
essential that 1) the limits of integration for the innermost integral
contain at most two variables (corresponding to the middle and
outermost differentials), 2) the limits of integration for the middle
integral contain at most one variable (corresponding to the outermost
differential), and 3) the limits of integration for the outermost integral are constants.

1
Exercise 1: Evaluate ∭𝐸𝐸 𝑒𝑒 𝑧𝑧/𝑦𝑦 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑, where 𝐸𝐸 = {(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) | 0 ≤ 𝑦𝑦 ≤ 1, 𝑦𝑦 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 1,0 ≤ 𝑧𝑧 ≤ 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥}.

2
Exercise 2: Evaluate ∭𝐸𝐸 𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 , where E is bounded by the paraboloid 𝑥𝑥 = 4𝑦𝑦 2 + 4𝑧𝑧 2 and the
plane 𝑥𝑥 = 4.

3
Interpretation of the Triple Integral as Volume
The following triple integral gives the volume of the solid E:

𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐸𝐸 = � 1 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝐸𝐸 𝐸𝐸

Exercise 3: Use a triple integral to find the volume of the solid enclosed by the paraboloids
𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2 and 𝑦𝑦 = 8 − 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑧𝑧 2 .