Topic: Directional derivatives in the direction of the vector

Question: Find the directional derivative.

Du f (−1,1)

f (x, y) = 4xy + 7y 2

u is the unit vector toward v = ⟨1,1⟩

Answer choices:

A Du f (−1,1) = 3 2

B Du f (−1,1) = 7 2

C Du f (−1,1) = − 3 2

D Du f (−1,1) = − 7 2

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Solution: B

We need to convert the vector v = ⟨c, d⟩ into a unit vector using the
formula

⟨ c2 + d 2 ⟩
c d
u = ,
c2 + d 2

Since in this problem v = ⟨1,1⟩, we get

⟨ 12 + 12 ⟩
1 1
u = ,
12 + 12

⟨ 2⟩
1 1
u = ,
2

⟨ 2 2 ⟩
2 2
u = ,

To get the directional derivative, we’ll use

( ∂x ) ( ∂y )
∂F ∂F
Du f (x, y) = a +b

where a and b come from the unit vector u = ⟨a, b⟩ we found earlier. All we
need now are the first order partial derivatives.

∂F
= 4y
∂x

and

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 ∂F
= 4x + 14y
∂y

Since we were asked to find Du f (−1,1), we need to evaluate the partial

derivatives at (−1,1).

∂F
(−1,1) = 4(1)
∂x

∂F
(−1,1) = 4
∂x

and

∂F
(−1,1) = 4(−1) + 14(1)
∂y

∂F
(−1,1) = 10
∂y

Plugging everything into the formula for the directional derivative, we get

2 2
Du f (−1,1) = (4) + (10)
2 2

Du f (−1,1) = 2 2 + 5 2

Du f (−1,1) = 7 2

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Topic: Directional derivatives in the direction of the vector

Question: Find the directional derivative.

Du f (2,0)

f (x, y) = − 3xe 2y + 2x 3

u is the unit vector toward v = ⟨−1, − 1⟩

Answer choices:

33 2
A Du f (2,0) = −
2

9 2
B Du f (2,0) =
2

9 2
C Du f (2,0) = −
2

33 2
D Du f (2,0) =
2

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Solution: C

We need to convert the vector v = ⟨c, d⟩ into a unit vector using the
formula

⟨ c2 + d 2 ⟩
c d
u = ,
c2 + d 2

Since in this problem v = ⟨−1, − 1⟩, we get

⟨ (−1)2 + (−1)2 ⟩
−1 −1
u = ,
(−1)2 + (−1)2

⟨ 2⟩
1 1
u = − ,−
2

⟨ 2 ⟩
2 2
u = − ,−
2

To get the directional derivative, we’ll use

( ∂x ) ( ∂y )
∂F ∂F
Du f (x, y) = a +b

where a and b come from the unit vector u = ⟨a, b⟩ we found earlier. All we
need now are the first order partial derivatives.

∂F
= − 3e 2y + 6x 2
∂x

and

281
 ∂F
= − 6xe 2y
∂y

Since we were asked to find Du f (2,0), we need to evaluate the partial

derivatives at (2,0).

∂F
(2,0) = − 3e 2(0) + 6(2)2
∂x

∂F
(2,0) = 21
∂x

and

∂F
(2,0) = − 6(2)e 2(0)
∂y

∂F
(2,0) = − 12
∂y

Plugging everything into the formula for the directional derivative, we get

2 2
Du f (2,0) = − (21) − (−12)
2 2

21 2 12 2
Du f (2,0) = − +
2 2

9 2
Du f (2,0) = −
2

282
Topic: Directional derivatives in the direction of the vector

Question: Find the directional derivative.

Du f (1,0, − 1)

f (x, y, z) = 4x 2e z − 7 cos y + 16y 2 z 3

u is the unit vector toward v = ⟨1,1, − 1⟩

Answer choices:

4 3
A Du f (1,0, − 1) =
3e

4e 3
B Du f (1,0, − 1) = −
3

4e 3
C Du f (1,0, − 1) =
3

4 3
D Du f (1,0, − 1) = −
3e

283
Solution: A

We need to convert the vector v = ⟨d, e, f ⟩ into a unit vector using the
formula

⟨ d 2 + e2 + f 2 ⟩
d e f
u = , ,
d 2 + e2 + f 2 d 2 + e2 + f 2

Since in this problem v = ⟨1,1, − 1⟩, we get

⟨ 12 + 12 + (−1)2 ⟩
1 1 −1
u = , ,
12 + 12 + (−1)2 12 + 12 + (−1)2

⟨ 3⟩
1 1 1
u = , ,−
3 3

⟨ 3 3 ⟩
3 3 3
u = , ,−
3

To get the directional derivative, we’ll use

( ∂x ) ( ∂y ) ( ∂z )
∂F ∂F ∂F
Du f (x, y, z) = a +b +c

where a, b and c come from the unit vector u = ⟨a, b, c⟩ we found earlier. All
we need now are the first order partial derivatives.

∂F
= 8xe z
∂x

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 ∂F
= 7 sin y + 32yz 3
∂y

∂F
= 4x 2e z + 48y 2 z 2
∂z

Since we were asked to find Du f (1,0, − 1), we need to evaluate the partial
derivatives at (1,0, − 1).

∂F 8
(1,0, − 1) = 8(1)e −1 =
∂x e

∂F
(1,0, − 1) = 7 sin 0 + 32(0)(−1)3 = 0
∂y

∂F 4
(1,0, − 1) = 4(1)2e −1 + 48(0)2(−1)2 =
∂z e

Plugging everything into the formula for the directional derivative, we get

3 (e) 3 (e)
3 8 3 3 4
Du f (1,0, − 1) = + (0) −
3

8 3 4 3
Du f (1,0, − 1) = −
3e 3e

4 3
Du f (1,0, − 1) =
3e

285