University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

College of Engineering and Architecture

Mechanical Engineering Department

A Technical Report on
Pappus-Guldinus Theorem 1 and 2

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

Math 112A – Calculus 2

Prepared by:
Mark Kenji I. Bag-o
CEA_ME_1B_STEM
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

Submitted to:
Mr. Jim David Ang M.Sc.

March 2025
Historical Context:
 Paul Guldin (1577–1643) was a Swiss Jesuit mathematician and
astronomer, originally named Habakkuk Guldin. Born in Mels, Switzerland,
he converted to Catholicism in his early twenties and joined the Jesuit
Order. Guldin became a professor of mathematics, teaching in Graz and
Vienna, and was known for his classical approach to mathematics,
opposing the emerging ideas of calculus during his time. Guldin is most
renowned for his work on the Pappus-Guldinus theorem, which he
rediscovered and expanded upon in the 17th century. This theorem,
originally formulated by Pappus of Alexandria, provides a method to
calculate the surface areas and volumes of solids of revolution. Guldin's
elaboration on this theorem significantly influenced engineering and
mathematics, offering practical tools for solving problems related to
geometry and mechanics.

Pappus of Alexandria (c. 290–c. 350 AD) was a Greek mathematician

of late antiquity, widely regarded as one of the last great geometers of the
classical era. He lived in Alexandria, Egypt, a renowned center of learning
and intellectual activity during the Roman Empire. Pappus flourished
during a period often considered a decline in Greek mathematical
innovation, yet his work stood out for its rigor and creativity. His most
famous contribution Is the “Synagoge” (or Collection), an eight-volume
compendium of mathematical knowledge. This work preserved and
expanded upon the ideas of earlier Greek mathematicians, including
Euclid and Ptolemy. Pappus introduced significant concepts in geometry,
such as Pappus’s Hexagon Theorem, which laid the groundwork for
modern projective geometry. His writings also addressed problems in
mechanics, astronomy, and recreational mathematics.

Theorems: Development and Applications:

Ancient Roots (4th Century AD):

Pappus of Alexandria first articulated the theorems in his

*Synagoge*. He described methods to calculate the surface areas and
volumes of solids of revolution, connecting geometry with the principles of
centroids and rotational symmetry. His work was largely theoretical and
focused on classical Greek geometry, lacking the modern tools of calculus.

Renaissance Rediscovery (17th Century):

In the 1600s, Paul Guldin rediscovered and elaborated on Pappus's

theorems. Using principles of classical mathematics, Guldin formalized the
concepts in his work *Centrobaryca*. By popularizing these ideas, Guldin
bridged classical geometry with early modern mathematical thought,
laying the groundwork for their practical application.

Integration with Calculus (17th–18th Century):

The advent of calculus by Newton and Leibniz provided a powerful

framework for formal proofs of the theorems. They became essential in
integral calculus, particularly in deriving formulas for the surface areas
and volumes of solids with complex shapes.

Modern Expansion (19th–20th Century):

The theorems were applied to various fields of engineering,

physics, and computer-aided design. Advances in technology allowed for
their application in computational geometry and numerical methods,
making them vital in solving real-world problems.

Applications:

Classical Mechanics:

The theorems played a crucial role in understanding rotational

systems, aiding the calculation of mass distribution, moments of inertia,
and angular momentum.

Engineering and Architecture:

Engineers used these principles to design rotating machinery,

structural components, and systems requiring precise surface area or
volume estimations (e.g., turbines, tanks, pipelines).

Modern Physics and Aerospace:

The integration of theorems with computational methods supports

aerospace engineering, particularly in designing rocket components with
symmetrical shapes.

Digital Applications:
 Today, the Pappus-Guldinus theorems are part of algorithms used
in 3D modeling, CAD software, and simulations for structural integrity.

Scope of the Report:

The purpose of this report Is to delve into Pappus’s Theorems,

specifically the first and second theorems, also known as Pappus
Guldinus’s Theorems. This report aims to explore the historical context
surrounding these theorems, present their mathematical formulations,
and illustrate their practical applications through a series of solved
examples. By examining these aspects, the report seeks to provide a
comprehensive understanding of how to apply Pappus’s Theorems in
solving problems related to the surface area and volume of solids of
revolution.

Brief Summary of the Theorems:

The Pappus-Guldinus theorems, often collectively called the centroid

theorems, consist of two major statements:

1. First Theorem: The surface area of a solid of revolution generated

by rotating a plane curve around a non-intersecting axis is equal to the
product of the curve’s arc length and the distance traveled by its centroid.

2. Second Theorem: The volume of a solid of revolution generated

by rotating a plane area around a non-intersecting axis is equal to the
product of the area and the distance traveled by its centroid.

These theorems connect geometry with calculus by enabling the

computation of surface areas and volumes of complex solids of revolution.
They laid a foundation for integral calculus techniques and are used for
problems where symmetry and centroids play a key role.
Pappus Guldinus First Theorem (Surface Area):

The first theorem states that the surface area of revolution is equal
to the product of the length of the generating curve and the distance
traveled by its centroid during the generation of the surface area.
Similarly, for calculating the volume of revolution, consider a differential
area element generating a ring with differential volume when revolved.
Integrating this differential volume determines the volume of revolution.

Intuitive Idea of First Theorem:

Imagine taking a curve and rotating it around an axis to create a

surface. Instead of calculating tiny surface elements and summing them
up (which is what calculus typically does), Pappus’ theorem tells us that:

Surface Area=Length of theCurve × Distance Traveled by theCentroid

This works because when a curve revolves, every tiny segment of

the curve traces out a ring. Adding up all these rings forms the entire
surface of the generated shape. The total contribution of all these rings
can be expressed using the centroid's circular path, simplifying the
problem significantly.

Why the Centroid Matters?

 Every small piece of the curve follows a circular path when

revolved.
 Instead of summing all tiny paths individually, we track the
centroid of the curve because its movement represents the
average movement of the whole shape.

Why Multiply by the Arc Length?

 The curve is like a flexible wire—when rotated, it “paints” the

surface of the solid.
 The longer the curve, the larger the surface it sweeps.

First Theorem Formula:

The surface area of a solid of revolution is given by:

A=P× d

where:

A = Surface area of the generated surface

P = Arc length (perimeter) of the generating curve

d = Distance traveled by the centroid during rotation

Arc Length Formula:

The arc length P of a curve y=f ( x )over ¿b] is:

Centroid Distance 𝑑

For a plane curve rotated about an external axis, the centroid coordinates
are:

The centroid's path length is:

Final Integral Formula for Surface Area:

This formula allows direct computation of surface area without

needing double integration.

Where:
Pappus Guldinus Second Theorem (Volume):

The second theorem states that the volume of a solid of revolution is

equal to the product of the area of the generating region and the distance
traveled by its centroid during rotation.

Intuitive Idea of Second Theorem:

Imagine that you have a flat shape, like a piece of paper, and you
rotate it around an axis. Instead of calculating the volume by summing up
tiny slices, you can think about how the entire shape moves as a whole.

Volume= Areaof the Region × Distance Traveled by the Centroid

The key idea is that every small part of the shape follows the same
circular path as its centroid. Since the centroid represents the “average”
position of all points in the shape, the total volume of the solid formed is
simply the area of the shape multiplied by the distance that its centroid
travels.

Why multiply with the Area of Region?

  We multiply by the area of the region because each tiny part
of the region follows the same circular path as the centroid,
and the total volume is the sum of these moving areas,
forming a solid of revolution.

Second Theorem Formula:

The Second Theorem of Pappus-Guldinus states that the volume of a

solid of revolution is:

V=A×d

Where:

A = area of the generating region

𝑑 = 2πr = distance traveled by the centroid

𝑟 = perpendicular distance from the centroid to the axis of rotation

Since the centroid moves in a circular path, we can express this distance
as:

If rotating around the x-axis

If rotating around the y-axis

Thus, the volume formula becomes:

For rotation around the x-axis

 For rotation around the y-axis

The arc length P of a curve y=f ( x )from ¿b] the area A is

The centroid coordinates are:

Using these, the volume integral becomes:

Torus and Pappus-Guldinus Theorem:

A torus is a 3D shape that looks like a doughnut or an inner tube. It

is formed by rotating a circle around an external axis that does not
intersect the circle.

Mathematically, a
torus is defined as:

( x 2 + y 2+ z 2−R2 )=4 R ²(x 2 + y 2 )

where:

𝑅 is the major radius (distance from the center of the torus to the center of the tube).

𝑟 is the minor radius (radius of the tube itself).

Final Formulas for a Torus:

 Surface Area;

2
A=4 π Rr
  Volume;
2
V =4 π Rr ²

Solved Pappus Guldinus Problems:

Conclusion:

Through studying the Pappus-Guldinus Theorems, I have learned

how geometry and calculus connect to solve real-world problems involving
surface area and volume of solids of revolution. The First Theorem showed
me that instead of using double integration, I can calculate surface area
by multiplying the arc length of a curve by the distance traveled by its
centroid. Similarly, the Second Theorem revealed that the volume of a
solid of revolution is simply the area of the generating region multiplied by
the centroid’s circular path. Understanding these principles helped me see
how centroids simplify complex calculations in physics, engineering, and
design. The historical development of these theorems, from Pappus of
Alexandria to Paul Guldin, reinforced the importance of mathematical
discovery and its long-term impact on modern applications.

Bibliography:
MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive. (n.d.). Paul Guldin biography.
Retrieved from
https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Guldin/

Math24. (n.d.). Pappus’ theorem. Retrieved from

https://math24.net/pappus-theorem.html

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Pappus of Alexandria. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pappus-of-Alexandria

JoVE Science Education Database. (n.d.). Theorems of Pappus and

Guldinus. Retrieved from
https://www.jove.com/science-education/v/14336/theorems-of-
pappus-and-guldinus

Theorem of the Day. (n.d.). Guldin’s theorem. Retrieved from

https://www.theoremoftheday.org/GeometryAndTrigonometry/Guldin/
TotDPappusGuldin.pdf