VOOZH about

URL: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/maths/change-of-variables/

⇱ Change of Variables - GeeksforGeeks


  • Courses
  • Tutorials
  • Interview Prep

Change of Variables

Last Updated : 3 Oct, 2025

Sometimes, it is hard to solve an integral using the given variables like x and y. So, we change the variables to new ones, like u and v, which makes the integral easier. We write x and y in terms of u and v. Then, we also change the limits of integration. This helps us solve the integral more easily.

Change of variable is a method used to simplify an integral by replacing the original variable with new variable.

The Jacobian method is used to perform a change of variable in a double integral. It often changes the variable from (x, y) to a new pair of variables (u, v) to simplify the limits.

The jacobian of the transformation x = g(u, v) , y = h(u,v)

Change of Variable for a Double Integral

Suppose that we want to integrate f(x, y) over the region R under the transformation x = g(u, v), y = h(u, v), the region becomes S, and the integral becomes:

Solved Question on Change of Variables

Question 1: Evaluate using the change of variables.

Solution:

Identify the region:
The limits are:

  • x: 0 β†’ 1
  • y: 0 β†’ 1​

This describes the quarter circle of radius 1 in the first quadrant.

R = {(x,y):x2 + y2 ≀ 1, x β‰₯ 0, y β‰₯ 0}

Since f(x2 + y2) depends on x2+y2, polar coordinates are natural.

Let x = rcos⁑θ, y = rsin⁑θ

Jacobian:

βˆ‚(x,y)/βˆ‚(r, ΞΈ) = r

  • x β‰₯ 0, y β‰₯ 0β€…β€ŠβŸΉβ€…β€ŠΞΈ ∈ [0, Ο€/2]
  • x2 + y2 ≀ 1β€…β€ŠβŸΉβ€…β€Šr ∈ [0, 1]

Substitue u = r2, du = 2r dr

r dr = 1/2 du

I

Question 2: Evaluate where (R) is the parallelogram with vertices (0, 0), (2, 1), (3, 3), (1, 2), using the transformation x = u + v, y = u - v.

Solution:

Transformation and Jacobian:

x = u + v, y = u - v implies that

Transform the integrand: x + y = (u + v) + (u - v) = 2u

Transform the region (R): Vertices in (uv)-plane:

(0, 0) β†’ (0, 0), (2, 1) β†’,

So, the rectangle in uv-plane:

0 ≀ u ≀ 3, βˆ’12 ≀ v ≀ 120

I = ∬S​(2u)β‹…2dudv = ∬S​4u du dv​

I = 18

Unsolved Questions on Change of Variables

Question 1: Let R be the parallelogram with vertices (0, 0), (2, 0), (3, 1), (1, 1). Evaluate using the linear change of variables u = x - y, v = x + 2y .

Question 2: Let the transformation S = { (u,v): 1 ≀ u ≀ 2,β€…β€Š0 ≀ v ≀ 1 }. Evaluate where R = T(S) by changing variables to u, v.

Question 3: Evaluate the double integral of 1/(1 + x2 + y2) over the annular sector with radius from 1 to 2 and angle from Ο€/4 to Ο€/2 using polar coordinates.

Question 4: Map the rectangle 0 ≀ u ≀ 1,β€…β€Š0 ≀ v ≀ 20 by x = 2u + v, y = u + 3vx = 2u + v, and evaluate the integral of 3x βˆ’ 2y over the resulting region (use the Jacobian).

Comment
Article Tags:
Article Tags:

Explore