Plotting surfaces in 3D space and setting up Triple Integrals

1 Plotting in 3D
It is generally very difficult to visualise and/or construct the 3 dimensional graph of a surface. However,
we can get clues to its shape by considering where the surface intersects with some chosen planes
(normally vertical or horizontal planes).

The first thing to note is that in 3D space (with reference to the axes below) the equation x = c
represents a vertical plane parallel to the zy-plane (i.e perpendicular to the x- axis), passing through
the x axis at x = c. The reason that this vertical plane has the equation x = c is because all the
co-ordinates of points in this plane have an x co-ordinate equal to c, i.e co-ordinates of the form
(c, y, z). The vertical plane in the figure below is the vertical plane parrallel to the yz-plane, passing
through x = −5 on the x axis. The co-ordinates of points in this plane all have an x co-ordinate equal
to −5, i.e co-ordinates of the form (−5, y, z).

10 Z

−10
−5 −10
X 5
10
Y
10
−5

−10

Likewise, the equation y = c represents a vertical plane parallel to the xz-plane (i.e perpendicular to
the y-axis). Co-ordinates in this plane are of the form (x, c, z). Also,, the equation z = c, represents a
horitontal plane parallel to the xy-plane (i.e perpendicular to the z-axis). Co-ordinates in this plane
are of the form (x, y, c)

Therefore, x = 0 represents the yz-plane, y = 0 represents the xz-plane, and z = 0 represents the
xy-plane. Using these three planes (or planes parallel to these) we are able to get an idea of the shape
of the 3D surface we wish to plot.

Example
Determine the graph of the parabaloid z = x2 + y 2
We start by considering where the parabaloid intersects with x = 0 (the zy-plane). Substitute x = 0
into the function z = x2 + y 2 . This gives the equation z = y 2 . This shows that the parabaloid
intersects the zy-plane in the form of the parabola z = y 2 . Likewise, substituting y = 0 into the
equation z = x2 + y 2 gives the equation z = x2 showing that the parabaloid intersects the zx-plane

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in the form of the parabola z = x2 . Substituting z = 0 into the equation z = x2 + y 2 gives the
equation x2 + y 2 = 0, which gives a circle of radius zero in the xy-plane, i.e the parabaloid intersects
the xy-plane at the point (0, 0, 0). We could further test to see how the parabaloid intersects with a
general horizontal plane z = c. Substituting this equation for some value c, into z = x2 + y 2 gives the
√
equation c = x2 + y 2 which is a circle of radius c, centered at the origin.

Z Z
10 10

8 8

6 z = y2 6 z = x2

4 4

2 2

Y X
−4 −2 2 4 z = x2 −4 −2 2 4
Y
4 20 Z

2 15

10
X
−4 −2 2 4
5
−2
−5 −5

−4 X Y
5 5
z = x2
The first graph above shows the cross section of where the parabaloid intersects with the zy-plane
(x = 0), the second graph shows the cross section of where the parabaloid intersects with the zx-plane
(y = 0), while the third graph shows the cross sections (from the view looking down towards the
xy-plane) of the parabaloid with the horizontal planes z = 1, z = 4, z = 9 and z = 16 respectively.
Placing these planes perpendicular to each other gives the bare outline of the shape of the surface (see
the fourth figure), and the graph of the complete surface below.

© 2019 Durban University of Technology: D Day Page 2

 20 Z

15

10

5 z = x2 + y 2

−4 −4
−2 −2
2 2 Y
X 4 4

2 Setting up Triple Integrals

We will cover this by working through an example.

Example(Question 3 of Review Questions)

Z Z Z
Evaluate 12y − 8x dV , where E is the region behind y = 10 − 2z and in front of the region in
E
the xz-plane bounded by z = 2x, z = 5 and x = 0.

2.1 Determine the shape of the region of Integration E

2.1.1 The surface y = 10 − 2z
Since this function is independent of the variable x (there is no x variable featured in the function),
any vertical plane x = c will intersect with the surface in a line defined by the function z = − 12 y + 5.
For example, the surface will intersect with x = 0, (the zy-plane) in the straight line z = − 12 y + 5 (see
first diagram below).
The intersection with y = 0 (the xz-plane) will be the straight line z = − 12 (0) + 5 = 5 (see second
diagram below).
The intersection with z = 0, (the xy-plane) will be the straight line 0 = − 12 y + 5, i.e the line y = 10
(see third diagram below).
8 Z 8 Z Y
10
y = 10
6 6
z=5
4 z = − 12 y + 5 4 5

2 2

Y X X
5 10 −5 5 −5 5
Placing these planes perpendicular to one another gives the form of the surface (see blue lines below).

© 2019 Durban University of Technology: D Day Page 3

 Z
6

2
−5

X
5 −2 5
10 Y

In addition, by checking the intersection lines between the surface and different horizontal planes
z = c, gives the straight lines c = − 12 y + 5 i.e y = 10 − 2c (see red lines above for c = 1, 2, 3, 4). Since
these are all straight lines, this shows that the surface is a plane surface.

2.1.2 The region in the xz-plane bounded by z = 2x, z = 5 and x = 0

Z
6
z=5

4
x=0 z = 2x
2

X
−2 2 4

The region behind y = 10 − 2z and in front of the region in the xz-plane bounded by z = 2x, z = 5
and x = 0 is shown in the 2 figures below (which include the planes z = − 21 y + 5 (green), z = 2x
(red), y = 0 (brown), x = 0 (yellow) which bound the region E). Note that the figure above is drawn
with the positive x axis to the right of the z-axis while in the previous diagram the positive x-axis is
drawn to the left of the z-axis.

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 Z
8

X
8 6 4 2 −2 −4 −6 −8
−2
z = − 12 y + 5 5

Y 10 −4
z = 2x
−6

−8

Z
8
y=0
6

2 x=0
−6 −8
−2 −2 −4
4 2
X 6 2
8 −2 4
6
−4 8 z=0
10 Y
−6

−8

© 2019 Durban University of Technology: D Day Page 5

2.2 Setting up a Triple Integral
2.2.1 Integrating with respect to x first (dV = dx dy dz or dV = dx dx dy)
First, we determine the limits of integration for x i.e the planes bounding a line drawn parallel to the
x-axis within the region.
In this case, referring to the figures above, the variable x ranges between the planes x = 0 and z = 2x
(or x = 12 z), i.e 0 ≤ x ≤ 12 z.

Once these limits have been established we obtain the remaining limits for y and z by examining the
footprint of the region in the yz-plane (the plane perpendicular to the x axis) see below.
6 Z

4 z = − 21 y + 5 or
y=0 y = 10 − 2z
2

z=0
Y
10 20

Therefore there are two possible forms of this integral, both of which give the same value;
Z Z Z Z 10 Z − 1 y+5 Z 1 z
2 2
1) (12y − 8x) dV = (12y − 8x) dx dz dy = 3125
6
E 0 0 0
1
Z Z Z Z 5Z 10−2z Z 2
z
3125
2) (12y − 8x) dV = (12y − 8x) dx dy dz = 6
E 0 0 0

2.2.2 Integrating with respect to y first (dV = dy dx dz or dV = dy dz dx)

First, we determine the limits of integration for y i.e the planes bounding a line drawn parallel to the
y-axis within the region.
In this case, referring to the figures above, the variable y ranges between the planes y = 0 and
y = 10 − 2z (or z = − 12 y + 5), i.e 0 ≤ y ≤ 10 − 2z.

Once these limits have been established we obtain the remaining limits for x and z by examining the
footprint of the region in the xz-plane (the plane perpendicular to the y axis) see below.
Z
6
z=5

4
x=0 z = 2x or
2 x = 21 z

X
5

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Therefore there are two possible forms of this integral, both of which give the same value;
Z Z Z Z 5 Z 1 z Z 10−2z
2
1) (12y − 8x) dV = (12y − 8x) dy dx dz = 3125
6
E 0 0 0
Z Z Z Z 2.5 Z 5Z 10−2z
3125
2) (12y − 8x) dV = (12y − 8x) dy dz dx = 6
E 0 2x 0

2.2.3 Integrating with respect to z first (dV = dz dy dx or dV = dz dx dy)

First, we determine the limits of integration for z i.e the planes bounding a line drawn parallel to the
z-axis within the region.
In this case, referring to the figures above, the variable z ranges between the planes z = 2x and
z = − 51 y + 5 (or y = 10 − 2z), i.e 2x ≤ z ≤ − 21 y + 5.

Once these limits have been established we obtain the remaining limits for y and z by examining the
footprint of the region in the yz-plane (the plane perpendicular to the z axis), see below and also the
region in the xy-plane bounded by the red dashed line in the second figure on page 5.

Y
10

5
y = −4x + 10 or
x=0 x = − 41 y + 52

X
−5 y=0 5 10

Therefore there are two possible forms of this integral, both of which give the same value;
Z Z Z Z 10 Z − 1 y+ 5 Z − 1 y+5
4 2 2
1) (12y − 8x) dV = (12y − 8x) dz dx dy = 3125
6
E 0 0 2x
5
Z Z Z Z
2
Z −4x+10 Z − 12 y+5
3125
2) (12y − 8x) dV = (12y − 8x) dz dy dx = 6
E 0 0 2x

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