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✓ 13 results · all verified · 8 also independently AI-judged
Every result on this page is machine-checked by a proof checker and read in full and owner-audited; the judge is an additional, independent cross-model AI review of the proofs. The 5 not AI-judged were verified by owner audit (typically over a confirmed judge false positive), not failures.

Regular Surfaces and Surface Integrals: Examples and Counterexamples

1 · Prerequisites

2 · Summary

3 · Logical flowchart

4 · Definitions, theorems and proofs

None yet.

5 · Examples, counterexamples and false statements

ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + claude-opus-5[1m])audited 2026-08-24Open item page →

Surface area and flux on a sphere, with scalar integrals on a hemisphere

Example

For R>0, the sphere of radius R has area 4πR2. With outward orientation, the field F(x)=x has flux 4πR3. On the northern hemisphere, the scalar integral of the height coordinate is πR3.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The parametrization φ(ϕ,θ)=R(sin⁡ϕcos⁡θ,sin⁡ϕsin⁡θ,cos⁡ϕ) on [0,π]×[0,2π].

[L2]

Regular-patch area and scalar integrals are ∫DJφ and ∫D(q∘φ)Jφ, and flux in the orientation induced by φ is ∫D(F∘φ)⋅(φu×φv) (Regular parametrized surface patches on compact Jordan parameter regions, Surface area and scalar surface integrals on a regular patch, Unit normal fields, orientations, and flux through a regular surface patch); Jordan-Fubini and the fundamental theorem evaluate the rectangular integrals (Fubini over a bounded Jordan set when all but a content-zero family of sections are integrable, The second fundamental theorem: if G is differentiable on [a,b] with G′=f and f is integrable, then ∫abf=G(b)−G(a)).

[L3]

The area density satisfies Jφ=∥φu×φv∥2 at every parameter point, with the cross product given by the coordinate formula (The surface area density is the norm of the cross product of the parameter tangents, The cross product in R3).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1givenL1L2L3algebra

Direct differentiation using [L1] and the coordinate formula in [L3] gives φϕ×φθ=Rsin⁡ϕ φ, the outward area vector, whose norm is R2sin⁡ϕ; by [L3] this is the area density Jφ. It is nonzero in the parameter interior; the longitude seam and poles lie on the boundary, so [L2] gives a regular patch.

2.1step 1.1L2algebra

By [L2], the area is ∫02π∫0πR2sin⁡ϕ dϕ dθ=4πR2.

2.2step 1.1L2algebra

Since F(φ)=φ, its dot product with the outward area vector is R3sin⁡ϕ, whose integral is 4πR3.

2.3step 1.1L1L2algebra

On the northern hemisphere 0≤ϕ≤π/2, the height is Rcos⁡ϕ, so its scalar integral is ∫02π∫0π/2R3sin⁡ϕcos⁡ϕ dϕ dθ=πR3.

3.1step 2.1step 2.2step 2.3∎

Steps 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 establish the area, outward flux, and hemisphere scalar integral with the orientation stated.

ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-24Open item page →

A closed cylinder as a finitely patched oriented surface

Example

For R,H>0, the boundary of the cylinder x2+y2≤R2, 0≤z≤H, has a compatible outward-oriented presentation by its side and two caps. Its area is 2πRH+2πR2. For F(x,y,z)=(x,y,0), its outward flux is 2πR2H.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The lateral parametrization σ(θ,z)=(Rcos⁡θ,Rsin⁡θ,z) and the two polar cap parametrizations, with outward orientations.

[L1]

Cross products are computed by the coordinate formula, and the standard trigonometric derivative and Pythagorean identities hold (The cross product in R3, The derivatives of sine and cosine are cosine and minus sine, Parity and the Pythagorean identity for sine and cosine, Quarter-turn values and shifts by pi/2 and pi).

[L3]

The area of a regular patch is ∫DJφ with Jφ=∥φu×φv∥2, and the flux of a continuous field F in the orientation induced by φ is ∫D(F∘φ)⋅(φu×φv) (Surface area and scalar surface integrals on a regular patch, The surface area density is the norm of the cross product of the parameter tangents, Unit normal fields, orientations, and flux through a regular surface patch).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1givenL1L3algebra

Using [L1], σθ×σz=(Rcos⁡θ,Rsin⁡θ,0) is the outward side area vector, whose norm is the density R of [L3]. The cap area vectors are vertical with density ρ in polar parameters, directed down at z=0 and up at z=H.

1.2givenL2

The patch intersections are boundary circles, whose preimages lie in parameter boundaries and have content zero. Thus [L2] makes these patches a compatible presentation.

2.1step 1.1step 1.2L2L3algebra

By [L3] the patch areas are the integrals of those densities, giving side area 2πRH and cap area πR2 each; [L2] sums them to the total area 2πRH+2πR2.

2.2step 1.1step 1.2L2L3algebra

By [L3] each patch flux is the integral of F dotted with that patch's area vector. The field F has zero dot product with both vertical cap area vectors, while on the side its dot product with the outward area vector is R2; integration and [L2] give total flux 2πR2H.

3.1step 2.1step 2.2∎

Summing the compatible patch values proves both formulas.

ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + claude-opus-5[1m])audited 2026-08-24Open item page →

The surface area of a torus is 4π2ab

Example

Let a>b>0. The torus obtained by revolving the circle of radius b whose centre is distance a from the axis has surface area 4π2ab.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The parametrization φ(θ,ϕ)=((a+bcos⁡ϕ)cos⁡θ,(a+bcos⁡ϕ)sin⁡θ,bsin⁡ϕ) on [0,2π]2.

[L3]

The area density satisfies Jφ=∥φu×φv∥2 at every parameter point, with the cross product given by the coordinate formula (The surface area density is the norm of the cross product of the parameter tangents, The cross product in R3).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1givenL1L2L3algebra

Differentiating with [L1] and using the coordinate formula in [L3] gives ∥φθ×φϕ∥2=b(a+bcos⁡ϕ), which by [L3] is the area density Jφ. Since a>b>0 it is positive; the only repeated parameter values occur on the rectangle boundary seams, so [L2] gives a regular patch.

2.1step 1.1L2L3

By [L2] and step 1.1, the area is ∫02π∫02πb(a+bcos⁡ϕ) dϕ dθ.

3.1step 2.1L1L2algebra

The full-period integral of cosine is zero, so the inner integral is 2πab and the outer integral gives 4π2ab.

4.1step 1.1step 3.1∎

This is the asserted torus area, with positivity of a−b having discharged the possible degeneracy.

ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + claude-opus-5[1m])audited 2026-08-24Open item page →

Downward flux through the graph z=xy over the unit square

Example

For F(x,y,z)=(zx,z2,xy), the downward flux through the graph z=xy over [0,1]2 is −1/18. The upward flux is 1/18.

Facts & Assumptions

Verification

technique · direct
1.1givenL1algebra

On the graph, F(x,y,xy)=(x2y,x2y2,xy), and its dot product with the downward area vector (y,x,−1) is x2y2+x3y2−xy.

2.1step 1.1L2algebra

By [L2], the integral is 1/9+1/12−1/4=−1/18.

3.1step 2.1L1∎

Reversing the orientation negates flux, so the upward value is 1/18.

ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-24Open item page →

The lateral area of a right circular cone is πRR2+H2

Example

For R,H>0, the lateral surface area of a right circular cone with base radius R and height H is πRR2+H2.

Facts & Assumptions

Verification

technique · direct
1.1givenalgebra

The profile is positive for 0<s≤H and vanishes only at the apex endpoint s=0, so [L1] applies.

2.1step 1.1L1L2algebra

By [L1] and [L2], the area is 2π(R/H)1+R2/H2∫0Hs ds=πRH1+R2/H2.

3.1step 2.1algebra∎

Since H>0, this equals πRR2+H2. The apex is a parameter-boundary point and contributes no separate term.

CounterexampleConstruction: AI-generatedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + claude-opus-5[1m])audited 2026-08-24Open item page →

A degenerate two-parameter map can collapse its image to a curve

Statement refuted

A continuous map of a two-dimensional parameter region into R3 need not describe a regular surface: its image can be only a curve.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The map φ:[0,1]2→R3, φ(u,v)=(u,0,0).

[L1]

A regular surface patch must be injective in its interior and have nonzero parameter cross product there (Regular parametrized surface patches on compact Jordan parameter regions).

[L2]

The cross product is given by its coordinate formula (The cross product in R3).

Counterexample

technique · direct
1.1givenL2algebra

The parameter derivatives are φu=(1,0,0) and φv=(0,0,0), so [L2] gives φu×φv=0 at every point.

1.2givenalgebra

Also φ(u,v) is independent of v, so the map is not injective on the interior, and its image is exactly the line segment {(u,0,0):0≤u≤1}.

2.1step 1.1step 1.2L1∎

Both regularity requirements in [L1] fail throughout the interior, and the image is one-dimensional. This supplies the claimed collapse.

ExampleConstruction: AI-generatedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + claude-opus-5[1m])audited 2026-08-24Open item page →

Opposite parametrizations preserve area and negate flux

Example

The parametrizations φ(u,v)=(u,v,0) and ψ(s,t)=(t,s,0) of the horizontal unit square both give area 1. For the constant field F=(0,0,1), their fluxes are 1 and −1 respectively.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The two maps on [0,1]2 and the coordinate swap h(s,t)=(t,s), so ψ=φ∘h.

[L2]

A regular patch has nonzero parameter cross product in the interior and no interior parameter point shares its image with a distinct point of the parameter region (Regular parametrized surface patches on compact Jordan parameter regions).

[L3]

The area of a regular patch is ∫DJφ with Jφ=∥φu×φv∥2, and the flux of a continuous field F in the orientation induced by φ is ∫D(F∘φ)⋅(φu×φv), the cross product being given by the coordinate formula (Surface area and scalar surface integrals on a regular patch, The surface area density is the norm of the cross product of the parameter tangents, Unit normal fields, orientations, and flux through a regular surface patch, The cross product in R3).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1givenL2algebra

The derivatives of φ are (1,0,0) and (0,1,0), with cross product (0,0,1); those of ψ are reversed, with cross product (0,0,−1). Both maps meet [L2], and det⁡Dh=−1.

2.1step 1.1L3algebra

By [L3] the two area integrands are the constant ∥(0,0,±1)∥2=1 and the two flux integrands are (0,0,1)⋅(0,0,1)=1 and (0,0,1)⋅(0,0,−1)=−1. Integrating over the unit square gives area 1 for both maps and fluxes 1 and −1.

3.1step 1.1step 2.1L1∎

The calculation agrees with [L1]: the coordinate swap preserves area and reverses the flux sign.

ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-24Open item page →

Gabriel's horn has unbounded truncated lateral area

Example

Rotate r(x)=1/x about the x-axis for x≥1. If A(T) is the lateral area of the compact truncation 1≤x≤T, then A(T) is unbounded as T→∞.

Facts & Assumptions

Verification

technique · direct
1.1givenL1algebra

By [L1], A(T)=2π∫1Tx−11+x−4 dx.

2.1step 1.1L2algebra

Since 1+x−4≥1 for x≥1, [L2] gives A(T)≥2π∫1Tdx/x=2πL(T).

3.1step 2.1L2∎

The lower bound is unbounded by [L2], so the family of compact-truncation areas is unbounded. The noncompact horn itself was not treated as one compact patch.

False statementConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-24Open item page →

FALSE: finite volume implies finite lateral surface area

Statement

Every solid of revolution with finite volume has finite lateral surface area.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: Gabriel's horn, obtained by rotating r(x)=1/x for x≥1, and its compact truncations 1≤x≤T.

[L1]

If a≤b and f:[a,b]→[0,∞) is continuous, then its solid of revolution about the x-axis is compact and Jordan measurable and has volume π∫abf(x)2 dx (The disc formula for the volume of a solid of revolution).

[L2]

The improper integral ∫1∞x−p dx converges for rational p>1 and diverges for p≤1 (Improper integrals over unbounded intervals, The improper p-test for rational exponents).

[L3]

If a<b and r:[a,b]→[0,∞) is C1 on a neighbourhood of [a,b], positive on (a,b), and vanishes at most at the endpoints, then the surface obtained by rotating r about the axis has area 2π∫abr(s)1+r′(s)2 ds (The surface of revolution has area 2π∫abr(s)1+r′(s)2 ds).

[L5]

If a<b and integrable f,g:[a,b]→R satisfy f(x)≤g(x) for every x, then ∫abf≤∫abg (If f≤g on [a,b] and both are integrable then ∫abf≤∫abg; and m(b−a)≤∫abf≤M(b−a)).

Refutation

technique · direct
1.1givenL1L2

Fix T>1. The profile r(x)=x−1 is continuous and positive on [1,T], so [L1] applies with a=1, b=T and gives the truncation volume V(T)=π∫1Tx−2 dx. By [L2] at p=2, these volumes tend to the finite value π.

1.2givenL2L3L4L5algebra

On a neighbourhood of [1,T] the same r is C1 with r′(x)=−x−2 by [L4], and it is positive throughout, so the hypotheses of [L3] hold and A(T)=2π∫1Tx−11+x−4 dx. Since 1+x−4≥1 on [1,T], [L5] gives A(T)≥2π∫1Tx−1 dx. By [L2] at p=1, the right side is unbounded as T→∞.

2.1step 1.1step 1.2L1L3∎

Thus the horn has finite improper volume but unbounded compact-truncation lateral area, refuting the implication. The truncation T=1 is excluded because [L1] and [L3] need a≤b and a<b respectively; the refutation concerns the unbounded endpoint and uses only T>1.

CounterexampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + claude-opus-5[1m])audited 2026-08-24Open item page →

Schwarz lanterns can have mesh tending to zero while their polyhedral areas diverge

Statement refuted

Inscribed triangulated surfaces with mesh tending to zero need not have areas tending to the surface-integral area of the cylinder; their areas can diverge to infinity.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A cylinder of radius r>0 and height H>0; integers n≥2 and m≥1; and the Schwarz lantern with m horizontal bands, n vertices per ring, and successive rings staggered by angle π/n.

[L1]

An affine parametrization of a nondegenerate triangle over the standard parameter triangle is a regular patch with constant cross-product density; its area is the density times the standard triangle's content 1/2 (Regular parametrized surface patches on compact Jordan parameter regions, Surface area and scalar surface integrals on a regular patch, The surface area density is the norm of the cross product of the parameter tangents, A triangle has content 12∣det⁡[B−A C−A]∣, equal to half base times height when the chosen side is nonzero). The cross product has its coordinate formula (The cross product in R3), and 1−cos⁡x=2sin⁡2(x/2) follows from the trigonometric addition and Pythagorean identities (Parity and the Pythagorean identity for sine and cosine, The addition formulas for sine and cosine).

[L3]

The reciprocal of a positive null sequence diverges to +∞ in the stated sense (For positive terms, null and divergence to +∞ are reciprocal, Divergence to +∞ and to −∞).

Counterexample

technique · direct
1.1givenL1algebra

Every vertex lies on the cylinder. Parametrize each triangular face affinely over the standard parameter triangle. Its constant parameter tangents are two edge vectors, so [L1] makes its area one half of their cross-product norm. Each of the m bands contains 2n congruent triangles; expanding those edge-vector cross products gives total area Am,n=2rnsin⁡(π/n)H2+m2r2(1−cos⁡(π/n))2.

1.2givenL2algebra

Take m=n3. The maximum edge length is bounded by the sum of the vertical step H/n3 and a circular chord of angle at most 2π/n, so the mesh tends to zero by [L2].

2.1step 1.2L1L2L3algebra

By [L1], n2(1−cos⁡(π/n))=2(nsin⁡(π/(2n)))2→π2/2 using [L2]. Hence n3(1−cos⁡(π/n)) grows like (π2/2)n and diverges by [L3].

3.1step 1.1step 2.1L2L3algebra

Also nsin⁡(π/n)→π by [L2]. Substitution in step 1.1 and step 2.1 shows An3,n→+∞.

4.1step 1.2step 3.1∎

Thus these inscribed lanterns have mesh tending to zero while their areas diverge, proving the stated counterexample.

False statementConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + claude-opus-5[1m])audited 2026-08-24Open item page →

FALSE: surface area is the supremum of inscribed polyhedral areas

Statement

The surface area of a smooth surface equals the supremum of the areas of its inscribed triangulated polyhedral surfaces.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A fixed circular cylinder of radius r>0 and height H>0.

[L1]

The cylinder admits inscribed Schwarz lanterns whose mesh tends to zero while their polyhedral areas diverge to +∞ (Schwarz lanterns can have mesh tending to zero while their polyhedral areas diverge).

[L2]

If a<b and r:[a,b]→[0,∞) is C1 on a neighbourhood of [a,b] and positive on (a,b), the surface obtained by rotating r about the axis has area 2π∫abr(s)1+r′(s)2 ds (The surface of revolution has area 2π∫abr(s)1+r′(s)2 ds).

Refutation

technique · direct
1.1givenL1

By [L1], the set of areas of inscribed triangulated polyhedral surfaces for this fixed cylinder is unbounded above.

2.1step 1.1L2algebra

Its supremum is therefore not a finite real number. The lateral cylinder is the surface of revolution of the constant profile r on [0,H], which is smooth on all of R and positive, so [L2] gives it the finite surface-integral area 2π∫0Hr1+0 ds=2πrH.

3.1step 1.1step 2.1∎

Consequently the proposed supremum does not equal surface area, even when arbitrarily small mesh is imposed.

False statementConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + claude-opus-5[1m])audited 2026-08-24Open item page →

FALSE: continuity alone makes the regular-patch surface-area formula applicable

Statement

Every continuous injective parametrization on a compact Jordan region satisfies the regular-patch cross-product surface-area formula.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The closed unit disc D and φ(u,v)=(u,v,∥(u,v)∥2).

[L2]

A partial derivative is a one-variable derivative along a coordinate line (Directional derivatives and partial derivatives of a map U⊆Rm→Rn), while a regular patch must be C1 on a neighbourhood and have a nonzero parameter cross product in the interior (Regular parametrized surface patches on compact Jordan parameter regions).

Refutation

technique · direct
1.1givenL1

By [L1], φ is continuous, and its first two coordinates make it injective on D.

1.2givenL1L2algebra

Along v=0, the third component is ∣u∣. Its right difference quotient at 0 is 1 and its left difference quotient is −1, so the u-partial derivative of φ does not exist at the interior point (0,0) by [L2].

2.1step 1.1step 1.2L2∎

Thus the cross-product integrand required by [L2] is unavailable at an interior point despite continuity and injectivity, refuting the statement. A polar cone parametrization moves the apex failure to a parameter-boundary point and is a different parametrization.

False statementConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-24Open item page →

FALSE: flux is independent of the parametrization without an orientation condition

Statement

Flux through a parametrized surface is independent of the chosen parametrization without any orientation condition.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The horizontal unit-square parametrizations φ(u,v)=(u,v,0) and ψ(s,t)=(t,s,0), and the constant field F=(0,0,1).

[L1]

The cross product has the displayed coordinate formula; injectivity and a nonzero interior parameter cross product make a regular patch; and flux is the integral of the field dotted with the induced oriented area vector (The cross product in R3, Regular parametrized surface patches on compact Jordan parameter regions, Unit normal fields, orientations, and flux through a regular surface patch).

[L2]

Orientation-preserving reparametrizations preserve flux and orientation-reversing ones negate it (Flux is invariant under orientation-preserving reparametrization and changes sign under reversal).

Refutation

technique · direct
1.1givenL1algebra

By [L1], φu×φv=(0,0,1) and ψs×ψt=(0,0,−1). Both maps are injective, so these nonzero interior cross products make them regular patches.

2.1step 1.1algebra

The two flux integrands are therefore 1 and −1 on the unit square, so the fluxes are 1 and −1.

3.1step 1.1step 2.1L2∎

The coordinate swap has determinant −1, and [L2] explains the sign change. Since the two values differ, the orientation-free statement is false.

Sources