Mistake Master

Volume with Washer Method: Revolving Around Other Axes AB & BC

Revolving about $y = k$ makes both radii distances from that line, $|f(x) - k|$ and $|g(x) - k|$, and the larger one is $R$. Adjusting only one of the two is the characteristic error here, and it produces a well-formed integral with no internal signal that anything is wrong, so the guard is to write both radii in the same form on the same line before proceeding. When the axis lies beyond the region the boundaries trade places: for $y = 2x$ above $y = x^{2}$ on $[0, 2]$ about $y = 5$, the parabola is four units from the axis at $x = 1$ against the line's three, so $R = 5 - x^{2}$ and $r = 5 - 2x$ and the volume is $\frac{136\pi}{15}$.

Keeping the 8.11 assignment gives the negative of that, which is the clearest available signal that the swap was missed. Three checks close the gap: both radii carry the same $k$ in the same form, $R \geq r$ at an interior test point, and the integrand vanishes wherever the two curves meet, since the washer degenerates to a circle there. Vertical axes add 8.10's requirements on top, so the variable, both conversions and the assignment of $R$ and $r$ all have to be right at once. Across 8.7 to 8.12 the integral has never changed; only the shape of $A$ and the length feeding it have.

THE AXIS OF REVOLUTION IS THE DASHED LINE y = 5, ABOVE BOTH CURVES. THE AXIS: y = 5 THE LONGER SEGMENT REACHES THE PARABOLA, THE LOWER CURVE: R = 5 − x², AND AT x = 1 IT IS 4 THE SHORTER ONE REACHES THE LINE: r = 5 − 2x, AND AT x = 1 IT IS 3 THE UPPER CURVE IS THE INNER ONE V = 136π/15 OUTER MEANS FARTHER FROM THE AXIS. WITH THE AXIS ABOVE THE REGION, THAT IS THE BOUNDARY THAT USED TO BE ON THE BOTTOM.
Drawn to scale at $90$ px per unit horizontally and $45$ px per unit vertically, with the parabola computed rather than sketched. The two marked segments sit at $x = 0.9$ and $x = 1.1$ and both start on the dashed axis. The one reaching the parabola is the longer, as it is at every $x$ in $(0, 2)$, since $R - r = x(2 - x)$.
REGION BETWEEN f ON TOP AND g BELOW. THE AXIS DECIDES THE REST. AXIS POSITION OUTER RADIUS R INNER RADIUS r y = 0, BELOW THE REGION f(x) g(x) y = k, STILL BELOW IT f(x) − k g(x) − k y = k, ABOVE THE REGION k − g(x) k − f(x) x = k, A VERTICAL LINE FARTHER OF THE TWO NEARER, IN dy ONLY THE THIRD ROW SWAPS f AND g. IT IS THE ROW WHERE THE AXIS HAS PASSED BEYOND THE REGION, SO NEARER AND UPPER PART COMPANY.
Rows one and two look the same because they are: shifting the axis without passing the region changes both radii and nothing else. The third row is the case worth memorising, and the fourth adds the change of variable on top of it.

The work

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Lesson
Volume with Washer Method: Revolving Around Other Axes

Adjusts both radii for a shifted axis and names the half-adjustment as the characteristic error, shows why the upper boundary becomes the inner radius once the axis passes beyond the region, adds the endpoint and ordering checks that catch both, and extends all of it to vertical axes.

Skill check · 10 scenarios
Diagnostic
10-item topic check

Ten items on washers about shifted axes: adjusting both radii consistently, reassigning outer and inner when the axis lies beyond the region, reading a negative volume as a missed swap, and setting up dy integrals for vertical axes.

Not yet available · 10 items
Targeted Practice
Drill a single misconception

Pick one of the failure modes you missed and drill it on its own. The round is adaptive: two correct in a row clears the misconception and moves you to the next.

Take the diagnostic to identify your misconceptions