Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2021/prelims/mathematics-v-resit/question-1/b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford 2021 Prelims Mathematics V resit Question 1 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
Express the position vector in the suggested orthonormal basis as . ThenThis orthogonal transformation preserves and has Jacobian determinant of absolute value one, so . The basis actually reverses orientation; the absolute value of the Jacobian determinant is why no minus sign enters the volume integral. Also , so the half-space becomes .
At each fixed , the section is the disk , of area . Its reflection symmetry in makes the integral of vanish. Hence the required triple integral isThe negative sign is also consistent with the cap lying in the direction , where its average coordinate is negative.
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