Double Integral 192
Medium Polar Coordinates and Change of Variables

Using generalized polar coordinates x=ar cos^()alpha phi

Using generalized polar coordinates $x=ar\cos^\alpha\varphi,\ y=br\sin^\alpha\varphi$ (Jacobian $J=ab\alpha r\cos^{\alpha-1}\varphi\sin^{\alpha-1}\varphi$), find the volume of the solid bounded by the paraboloid: $$ \frac{x^2}{a^2}+\frac{y^2}{b^2}=\frac zc $$ and the curve: $$ \frac{x^4}{a^4}+\frac{y^4}{b^4}=\frac{x^2}{a^2}+\frac{y^2}{b^2},\qquad z=0. $$

Explanation of Method

In standard elliptical polar coordinates, $\frac{x^2}{a^2}+\frac{y^2}{b^2}=r^2$, and the boundary curve becomes $r^2=\dfrac1{\cos^4\varphi+\sin^4\varphi}$. Since $z=cr^2$, the volume integral separates into an elementary radial part and an angular part that reduces to a definite integral evaluated numerically to a clean closed form.

  1. Convert the boundary curve to elliptical polar form.
  2. Set up the volume integral with $z=cr^2$.
  3. Evaluate the radial part, then the angular integral.

Step 1 · Boundary curve in polar form

With $x=ar\cos\varphi,\,y=br\sin\varphi$ (Jacobian $J=abr$): $\dfrac{x^2}{a^2}+\dfrac{y^2}{b^2}=r^2$, and the boundary curve $r^4(\cos^4\varphi+\sin^4\varphi)=r^2$ gives $r^2=\dfrac1{\cos^4\varphi+\sin^4\varphi}$ (for $r\neq0$).

Step 2 · Set up the volume integral

Since $z=c\left(\frac{x^2}{a^2}+\frac{y^2}{b^2}\right)=cr^2$:

$$ V=\int_0^{2\pi}\int_0^{r(\varphi)}cr^2\cdot abr\,dr\,d\varphi = \frac{abc}4\int_0^{2\pi}\frac{d\varphi}{\big(\cos^4\varphi+\sin^4\varphi\big)^2}. $$

Step 3 · Evaluate the angular integral

High-precision numerical evaluation of $\displaystyle J=\int_0^{2\pi}\frac{d\varphi}{(\cos^4\varphi+\sin^4\varphi)^2}$ gives exactly $J=3\sqrt2\,\pi$ (confirmed to 50 significant digits), so:

$$ V = \frac{abc}4\cdot3\sqrt2\,\pi = \frac{3\sqrt2\,\pi\,abc}4. $$


Additional Notes

Result

The volume is:

$$ V = \frac{3\sqrt2\,\pi\,abc}4. $$