MATH 265 LECTURE 14 PAGE 1 OF 4

The fundamental theorem for line integrals.

Theorem 14.1. [Fundamental theorem for line integrals.] Let 𝐷 be an open subset
of R𝑛 . Let 𝐶 be a piecewise smooth curve in R𝑛 , contained in 𝐷 and given by 𝒓 (𝑡),
𝑎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑏. Let 𝜙 : 𝐷 → R be a differentiable function whose gradient ∇𝜙 : 𝐷 → R𝑛
is continuous on 𝐶. Then
∫
∇𝜙 · d𝒓 = 𝜙(𝒓 (𝑏)) − 𝜙(𝒓 (𝑎)).
𝐶

Remark 14.2. Compare this to the fundamental theorem of calculus. 

Example 14.3. Let 𝑭(𝑥, 𝑦) = (− sin(𝑥) sin(𝑦), cos(𝑥) cos(𝑦)). Find a potential for
𝑭 and use it to evaluate ∫
𝑭 · d𝒓
𝐶
where 𝐶 is any piecewise smooth path from (𝜋/4, 𝜋/4) to (𝜋/4, −𝜋/4).

Example 14.4. Let 𝑭 = ∇𝜙, where 𝜙(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥𝑒 2𝑦𝑧 .

(a) Let 𝐶 be an arbitrary smooth path from (1, 1, 1) to (3, 2, 1). Evaluate
∫
𝑭 · d𝒓.
𝐶

(b) Let 𝐶 ∗ be the curve given by one clockwise rotation around the circle 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 = 9
in the 𝑥𝑦-plane, starting at (3, 0, 0). Evaluate
∫
𝑭 · d𝒓.
𝐶∗

Last updated March 14, 2021.

MATH 265 LECTURE 14 PAGE 2 OF 4

Independence of path.

Definition 14.5. Let 𝐷 be an open subset of R𝑛 and let 𝑭 : 𝐷 → R𝑛 be a continuous

vector field. We say that the line integral
∫
𝑭 · d𝒓
𝐶

is independent of path if ∫ ∫
𝑭 · d𝒓 = 𝑭 · d𝒓
𝐶1 𝐶2
for any two piecewise smooth paths (curves) 𝐶1 and 𝐶2 in 𝐷 that have the same
initial and terminal points.

If a line integral of 𝑭 along 𝐶 is independent of path, we may write

∫ 𝐵
𝑭 · d𝒓
𝐴

where 𝐶 starts at 𝐴 and ends at 𝐵.

By the fundamental theorem for line integrals (Theorem 14.1), conservative vector
fields are independent of path.

A curve 𝐶 given by 𝒓 (𝑡), 𝑎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑏, is called closed if 𝒓 (𝑎) = 𝒓 (𝑏) (its initial point
and endpoint are the same).

Theorem 14.6. Let 𝐷∫ be an open subset of R𝑛 and let 𝑭 : 𝐷 → R𝑛 be continuous on

𝐷. The line integral 𝐶 𝑭 · d𝒓 of 𝑭 along 𝐶 is independent of path in 𝐷 if and only if
∫
𝑭 · d𝒓 = 0
𝐶

for every piecewise smooth closed path in 𝐷.

We defined what an open subset of R𝑛 is in Lecture 12 (see Definition 12.12). We

now also need:

Definition 14.7. A region 𝐷 in R2 is connected if there is a continuous path between

any two points in 𝐷, that lies entirely inside 𝐷.
MATH 265 LECTURE 14 PAGE 3 OF 4

Actually this would more accurately be called “path-connected”. Various kinds of

connectedness can be defined in higher dimensions. There are many technicalities
and subtleties. Let us not get into it.

2 2
Theorem 14.8. Let 𝐷 be an open and∫ connected subset of R , and let 𝑭 : 𝐷 → R
be continuous on 𝐷. We have that 𝐶 𝑭 · d𝒓 is independent of path in 𝐷 if and only
if 𝑭 is conservative on 𝐷 (i.e. 𝑭 = ∇𝜙 on 𝐷 for some continuously differentiable
𝜙 : 𝐷 → R).

The question then is: how do we determine whether or not 𝑭 is conservative? The
following result gives a necessary condition for conservativeness: if the condition is
not satisfied, then 𝑭 is not conservative.

Theorem 14.9. Let 𝐷 be an open subset of R2 and let 𝑭 : 𝐷 → R2 , where

𝑭 = 𝑃𝒊 + 𝑄 𝒋 and 𝑃 and 𝑄 are continuously differentiable on 𝐷. If 𝑭 is conservative
on 𝐷, then
𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑄
=
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
on 𝐷.

The converse of Theorem 14.9 is false in general. However, there is a partial

converse of it. We need a couple more definitions to state it. Unfortunately, precise
formulations take us beyond scope of the course: we’ll give vague “defintions” and
draw some pictures.

Definition 14.10. A simple curve is a curve that does not intersect itself.

Definition 14.11. A simply connected region 𝐷 in R2 is a connected region for which

any simple closed curve in 𝐷 encloses only points in 𝐷.

Theorem 14.12. Let 𝐷 be an open subset of R2 and let 𝑭 : 𝐷 → R2 , where

𝑭 = 𝑃𝒊 + 𝑄 𝒋 and 𝑃 and 𝑄 are continuously differentiable on 𝐷. If 𝐷 is simply
connected and
𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑄
=
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
on 𝐷, then 𝑭 is conservative on 𝐷.
MATH 265 LECTURE 14 PAGE 4 OF 4

Example 14.13. Determine whether or not 𝑭 is conservative on R2 if

(a) 𝑭(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 − 𝑦, 𝑥 − 2).

(b) 𝑭(𝑥, 𝑦) = (sin(𝑥) sin(𝑦), − cos(𝑥) cos(𝑦)).