Solutions to Assignment-4

Additional problems
1. (a) Let B = {(x, y, z) ∈ R3 | x2 + y 2 + z 2 < 1}, and f : B → R be a differentiable function such that
→
−
∇f (x, y, z) = ~0

for all (x, y, z) ∈ B. Then show that f takes a constant value on B.

Hint: Look at the restriction of the function to a ray joining the origin to any point in B, and show
that the function is constant along this ray. That is, for any (a, b, c) ∈ B, consider the function

g(t) = f (ta, tb, tc)

on [0, 1] and show that g(t) is constant for all t.

Solution: As in the hint, consider

g(t) = f (ta, tb, tc),

for any (a, b, c) ∈ B. Then by chain rule

→
−
g 0 (t) = ∇f (ta, tb, tc) · ha, b, ci = 0.

So g is a constant. In particular, g(0) = g(1), and so

f (a, b, c) = f (0, 0, 0).

Since this holds for any a, b, c ∈ B, f is a constant.

(b) More generally, let Ω ⊂ R3 be any open path connected subset i.e. any two points in Ω can be
connected by a smooth path lying in Ω. Show that any differentiable function f : Ω → R such that
→
−
∇f (x, y, z) = ~0

for all (x, y, z) ∈ Ω has to be a constant function.

Solution: Fix a point P0 (x0 , y0 , z0 ) ∈ Ω. For any other P (a, b, c) ∈ Ω, since Ω is path
connected, there exists a smooth curve ~r(t) with ~r(0) = P0 and ~r(1) = P . Then consider
g(t) = f (~r(t)). Again by chain rule
→
−
g 0 (t) = ∇f (~r(t)) · r~0 (t) = 0,

since the gradient by assumption is zero. This shows that g is a constant, and so g(0) = g(1)
and hence f (P0 ) = f (P ). Since this is true for any P ∈ Ω, f is a constant on Ω.

1
2. Suppose f is a differentiable function of one-variable. Show that all tangent planes to the surface
z = xf (y/x) intersect at a common point. Find the coordinates of the common point.

Solution: The surface is the level set g(x, y, z) = 0, where g(x, y, z) = xf (y/x) − z. The normal to
the surface is then given by the gradient ∇g. Using chain rule we compute
∂g y y y
=f − f0 ,
∂x x x x
∂g y
= f0 .
∂y x

Then the equation to the tangent plane at an arbitrary point (a, b, af (b/a)) is given by
  b  b  b  b
(x − a) f − f0 + (y − b)f 0 − (z − af (b/a)) = 0.
a a a a
Simplifying the terms, this is equivalent to,
b b
xf + yf 0 + z = 0.
a a
Clearly the origin (0, 0, 0) lies on this plane. Since we had taken an arbitrary point on the surface,
this shows that the origin lies on all tangent planes to the surface.

3. (a) Let g be a differentiable function of one-variable, and let

p
f (x, y, z) = g( x2 + y 2 + z 2 ).

Show that
→
− g 0 (r) ~
∇f (P ) = OP ,
r
p −−→
where r = x2 + y 2 + z 2 and OP is the position vector of the point P . Such functions f which
only depend on the radial distance r of the point from the origin are called radial functions.
p
Solution: We call the position vector by ~r, and r = x2 + y 2 + z 2 . By chain rule,
p
∂f 0 ∂ x2 + y 2 + z 2 g 0 (r)
= g (r) = x.
∂x ∂x r
Similarly one can compute ∂f /∂y and ∂f /∂z, and show that

g 0 (r) g 0 (r)
∇f = hx, y, zi = ~r.
r r

(b) Conversely, suppose f is a differentiable function on Ω ⊂ R3 , and suppose there exists another
function h : Ω → R such that
→
− −−→
∇f (P ) = h(P )OP
for all points P ∈ Ω. Then show that f is a radial function. That is, show that the restriction of f
to any sphere of radius a centered at the origin is a constant.

2
Solution: Consider a sphere Sa of fixed radius a, and let (p, q, r) be any point on the sphere.
Clearly Sa is connected, and there is path ~r(t) : [0, 1] → Sa lying entirely on the sphere, and
connecting the north pole (0, 0, a) to (p, q, r). Let g(t) = f (~r(t)). Then by chain rule,

g 0 (t) = ∇f (~r(t)) · r~0 (t) = h(a)~r(t) · r0~(t).

Since |~r(t)|2 = a2 is a constant, differentiating (a trick we have seen earlier),

d
0= |~r(t)|2 = 2~r(t) · r~0 (t).
dt

Hence ~r(t) ⊥ r~0 (t), and g 0 (t) = 0. In particular g(0) = g(1) and so f (0, 0, a) = f (p, q, r). Since
the point (p, q, r) ∈ Sa was arbitrary, f is a constant on the sphere. So f is constant on any
fixed sphere, and hence has to be a radial function.