1.3.

3 The fundamental theorem for Gradients

A scalar function of three variables , so:
dT = ( ∂T∂x x^ + ∂T∂y ^y + ∂∂Tz ^z) ( dx x^ +dy ^y +dz ^z) =( ∇ T )( d l )=|∇ T||dl|cosθ

Starting at point A, we move a small distance dl1, the function T will change by an amount
dT =( ∇ T ) . d l 1
By additional small displacement d l2; the incremental change in T will be (∇ T ¿ ∙ d l2, by
infinitesimal steps => point b.
The total change in T in going from a to b (along the path selected) is:

Corollary 1: is independent of the path taken from a to b

Corollary 2: ∮ ( ∇ T ) . dl=0 since the beginning and end points are identical
 T ( a )−T ( b )=0

Example:
Let , take point a to be the origin (0,0,0) and b the point (2,1,0). Check the
fundamental theorem for gradients
Although the integral is independent of path, we pick a specific path in order to evaluate it
(along the x axis (1) and then up (2)).

So d l=dx ^x + dy ^y + dz ^z ; ∇ T = y 2 x^ +2 y ^y

(i) y=0; d l=dx ^x ;∇ T ∙ d l= y dx=0

2

So
(ii) x=2 ; d l=dy ^y ; ∇ T ∙ d l=2 xydy =4 ydy

so
The total line integral is 2 = T(b) – T(a)
Also if you calculate the same integral along path (iii), you
will get the same result.