Directional Derivative and Gradients

Definition: If f (x, y) is function of x and y and if ⃗u = u1⃗i + u2⃗j

is a unit vector, then the directional derivative of f in the direc-
tion of ⃗u at (x0, y0) is denoted by
d
Duf (x0, y0) = [f (x0 + su1, y0 + su2)]s=0
ds
provided this derivative exists.

Example: Let f (x, y) = xy. Find and interpret Duf (1, 2) for
√
3⃗ 1⃗
the unit vector ⃗u = i + j.
2 2
Definition: If ⃗u = u1⃗i+u2⃗j +u3⃗k is a unit vector and if f (x, y, z)
is a function of x, y, and z, then the directional derivative of f
in the direction of ⃗u at (x0, y0, z0) if denoted by Duf (x0, y0, z0)
and defined by
d
Duf (x0, y0, z0) = [f (x0 + su1, y0 + su2, z0 + su3)]s=0
ds
provided this derivative exist.

Theorem:

a) If f (x, y) is differentiable at (x0, y0) and if ⃗u = u1⃗i + u2⃗j

is a unit vector, then the directional derivative Duf (x0, y0) ex-
ists and is given by

Duf (x0, y0) = fx(x0, y0).u1 + fy (x0, y0).u2

b) If f (x, y) is differentiable at (x0, y0, z0) and if ⃗u = u1⃗i+u2⃗j +

u3⃗k is a unit vector, then the directional derivative Duf (x0, y0, z0)
exists and is given by

Duf (x0, y0, z0) =fx(x0, y0, z0).u1 + fy (x0, y0, z0).u2
+ fz (x0, y0, z0).u3

Example: Find the directional derivative of f (x, y, z) = x2y −

yz 3 + z at the point (1, −2, 0) in the direction of the vector
⃗u = 2⃗i + ⃗j − 2⃗k.
Example: Find the directional derivative of f (x, y) = exy at
(−2, 0) in the direction of the unit vector that makes an angle
of π/3 with the positive x-axis.
 Gradient
Definition:
a) If f is a function of x and y, then the gradient of f is defined
by

∇f (x, y) = fx(x, y)⃗i + fy (x, y)⃗j

b) If f is a function of x, y, and z, then the gradient of f is

defined by

∇f (x, y, z) = fx(x, y, z)⃗i + fy (x, y, z)⃗j + fz (x, y, z)⃗k

Example: Find the gradient of f (x, y) = 5x2+y 4 at the indicated

point (4, 2).
 Curl
Definition: The curl of a vector field measures how much the
field rotates or circulates around a point. Mathematically, the
curl of a vector field F⃗ = P⃗i + Q⃗j + R⃗k is defined as:

curl(F⃗ ) = ∇
⃗ × F⃗

⃗ is the vector differential operator called ’del’ operator.

where ∇

⃗ ⃗ ∂ ⃗∂ ⃗ ∂
∇=i +j +k
∂x ∂y ∂z
⃗i ⃗j ⃗k
⃗ × F⃗ = ∂ ∂ ∂
∇
∂x ∂y ∂z
P Q R

Example: If F⃗ = xz⃗i + xyz⃗j − y 2⃗k, find curl(F⃗ ).

 ⃗ ).
Example: Evaluate curl(∇f

# If F⃗ is conservative, then curl(F⃗ ) = 0.

Example: Show that the vector field F⃗ (x, y, z) = xz⃗i + xyz⃗j −

y 2⃗k is not conservative.
 Divergence
Definition: The divergence of a vector field measures how much
the field spreads out or convergences around a point. Mathe-
matically, the divergence of a vector field F⃗ = P⃗i + Q⃗j + R⃗k is
defined as

div(F⃗ ) = ∇
⃗ · F⃗

where ”·” denotes the dot product.

∂ ⃗∂ ⃗ ∂
div(F ) = (i + j + k ) · (P⃗i + Q⃗j + R⃗k)
⃗ ⃗
∂x ∂y ∂z
∂P ∂Q ∂R
= + +
∂x ∂y ∂z

Example: If F⃗ (x, y, z) = xz⃗i + xyz⃗j − y 2⃗k. Find divF⃗ .

Theorem: If F⃗ = P⃗i + Q⃗j + R⃗k is a vector field on R3 and
P , Q, R have continuous second-order partial derivatives then
div(curlF⃗ ) = 0.
Proof: HW