[Math] Use a triple integral to find the volume of a tetrahedron

calculusintegrationvolume

Problem: Use a triple integral to find the volume of the tetrahedron bounded by the planes $x+y+z=1$, $x=y$, $x=0$, $z=0$.

I drew (what I believe to be) the solid bounded by the regions. However, I am having difficulty finding the bounds for the triple integral. I think they are:

  • $1-z-x ≤ y ≤ x $
  • $0 ≤ x ≤ y$
  • $0 ≤ z ≤ 1$

But, I am not sure. Thanks in advance!

Best Answer

Well I would first make a sketch of the solid boundry. By getting three points from the relation x+y+z=1 by plugging in 0 for two of the variables and solving for the other. You get the points (1,0,0), (0,0,1),(0,1,0). I would sketch that first, then put the plane equation in terms of two variables, I.e. z=1-x-y. Thus you can see that z goes from 0 to 1-x-y. In addition the bounds for x and y are determined by its projection in the xy plane, a triangle, with the hypotenuse y=1-x.