Lecture-18
Mathematics 1 (15B11MA111)
CO [C105.4]
Module: Vector Differentiation
1
Topics to be covered
➢Gradient
➢Geometric representation
➢Examples
➢Directional derivatives
➢Example
➢Maximum rate of change of scalar field
Reference for the lecture
R.K Jain and S.R.K. Iyenger, “Advanced Engineering Mathematics” fifth
edition, Narosa publishing house, 2016.
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Gradient
Let 𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛 be a real valued function defining a scalar field. The
gradient of this scalar field is defined as
𝝏𝒇 𝝏𝒇 𝝏𝒇
𝛁𝒇 𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅 (𝒇) = 𝒊Ƹ + 𝒋Ƹ
+𝒌
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
𝝏 𝝏 𝝏
where 𝛁 = 𝒊Ƹ + 𝒋Ƹ + 𝒌 and read as del (operator).
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
Example 1: Find the gradient of the following scalar fields
(i) 𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚 = 𝒚𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙𝒚 at (1,2)
(ii) 𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛 = 𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒙𝒚𝟐 − 𝒛𝟐 at (3,1,1)
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𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
Solution: (i) 𝛻𝑓 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ 𝑓 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ 𝑦 2 − 4𝑥𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
= −4𝑦𝑖Ƹ + 2𝑦 − 4𝑥 𝑗Ƹ = −8𝑖(at
Ƹ 1,2)
(ii) 𝛻𝑓= 2𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦 2 𝑖Ƹ + 2𝑥 2 𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝑗Ƹ − 2𝑘
𝛻𝑓 at (3,1,1) = 7𝑖Ƹ + 24𝑗Ƹ − 2𝑘.
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Geometric representation of the gradient
Let 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 be a differentiable scalar field and 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑐 be a level surface and
𝑃0 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) be a point on it. There are infinite number of smooth curves on the surface
passing through 𝑃0 and each of these curves has a tangent at 𝑃0 . The totality of these tangent
lines form a tangent plane to the surface at 𝑃0 . A vector normal to this plane at 𝑃0 is called
the normal vector to the surface at this point.
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Consider a curve C on the surface passing through a point P on the
surface. Let 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑡 , 𝑦 = 𝑦 𝑡 , 𝑧 = 𝑧(𝑡) be a parametric
representation of the curve C. Any point P on C has the position vector
Since the curve lies on the surface, we
𝑟ҧ = 𝑥 𝑡 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦 𝑡 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑧 𝑡 𝑘.
have
𝑓 𝑥 𝑡 ,𝑦 𝑡 ,𝑧 𝑡 = 𝑐.
𝑑
Then, 𝑓 𝑥 𝑡, , 𝑦 𝑡 , 𝑧 𝑡 = 0.
𝑑𝑡
𝜕𝑓 𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝑓 𝑑𝑦 𝜕𝑓 𝑑𝑧
By chain rule, + + = 0,
𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑧 𝑑𝑡
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑧
𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘 . 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘 =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
∇𝑓. 𝑟ҧ ′ t = 0. 6
Let ∇𝑓(P)≠ 0 and 𝑟ҧ ′ t ≠ 0. Now 𝑟ҧ ′ t is a tangent vector to C at
the point P and lies in the tangent plane to the surface at P. Hence,
∇𝑓(P) is orthogonal to every tangent vector at P. Therefore, ∇𝑓(P) is
the vector normal to the surface 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑐 at the point P.
Remarks:
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑓
1. The unit normal vector is 𝑛ො = .
|𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑓|
2. The gradient vector (normal vector) at a point 𝑃0 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) on
the surface 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑐 can be used to derive the equation of
tangent plane at 𝑃0 , to the surface. Since the vector 𝑥 − 𝑥0 𝑖Ƹ +
𝑦 − 𝑦0 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑧 − 𝑧0 𝑘 is a vector in the tangent plane, Hence it
is orthogonal to the gradient vector at 𝑃0 .
=0
Therefore, ∇𝑓 𝑃0 . { 𝑥 − 𝑥0 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑦 − 𝑦0 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑧 − 𝑧0 𝑘}
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
𝑥 − 𝑥0 𝑃0 + 𝑦 − 𝑦0 𝑃0 + 𝑧 − 𝑧0 𝑃0 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
is the equation of the tangent plane.
Example 2. Find a unit normal vector to the surface 𝑥𝑦 2 + 2𝑦𝑧 = 8 at
the point (3,-2,1).
Solution: Let 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥𝑦 2 + 2𝑦𝑧 − 8
𝜕𝑓 2 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
= 𝑦 , = 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑧 and =2y.
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
Therefore, ∇𝑓 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘 = 𝑦 2 𝑖Ƹ + 2 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧 𝑗Ƹ + 2𝑦𝑘
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
The unit normal vector at (3,-2,1) is
At (3,-2,1), ∇𝑓 = 4𝑖Ƹ − 10𝑗Ƹ − 4𝑘.
2𝑖Ƹ − 5𝑗Ƹ − 2𝑘
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Example 3. Find the normal vector and the equation of the tangent
plane to the surface 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 at the point (3,4,5).
Solution: Let 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑧 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 0 be the surface. The
normal is given as
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕
∇𝑓 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘 = (𝑖 Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ +𝑘 )(𝑧 − 𝑥2 + 𝑦2)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝑥 𝑥 𝑦 𝑦
=− 𝑖Ƹ −
𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘 = − 𝑖Ƹ − 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘.
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 𝑧 𝑧
At (3,4,5), the normal vector is
3 4
∇𝑓 3,4,5 = − 𝑖Ƹ − 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘 9
5 5
and the tangent plane is given as
3 4
− 𝑥 − 3 − 𝑦 − 4 + 𝑧 − 5 = 0, 𝑜𝑟 3𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 5𝑧 = 0
5 5
Example 4: Find the angle between the surface 𝑥 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑧 = 𝑦 2 − 1 and
𝑥 2 𝑦 = 2 − 𝑧 at the point (1,1,1).
1
Ans: 𝜃 = cos −1
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Directional Derivative
Let 𝑓 𝑃 = 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 be a differentiable scalar field and 𝑏 = 𝑏1 𝑖+
Ƹ
Ƹ 𝑏3 𝑘 be any unit vector. Then the directional derivative of 𝑓 in the
𝑏2 𝑗+
direction of 𝑏 is given by
𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 (𝐷𝑏 𝑓 ) = ∇𝑓. 𝑏 = grad f . 𝑏
Example 5: Find the directional derivative of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 3 + 𝑥𝑦 at
(2,1) in the direction of a unit vector which makes an angle of 𝜋/3
with the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠.
Solution: We have ∇𝑓 = 2𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑦 𝑖Ƹ + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑥 𝑗Ƹ
At (2,1), ∇𝑓 = 5𝑖Ƹ + 14𝑗.Ƹ
1 3
The unit vector is given by 𝑏 = cosθ𝑖 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑗 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗,Ƹ for 𝜃 =
2 2
60. Therefore the directional derivative is
1 2 5+14 3
𝐷𝑏 𝑓 =(5𝑖Ƹ + 14𝑗).(
Ƹ 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗)Ƹ = .
2 2 2
Maximum rate of change of a scalar field
We have 𝐷𝑏 𝑓 = ∇𝑓. 𝑏 = ∇𝑓 . |𝑏|
cos 𝜃 = ∇𝑓 cos 𝜃
Since −1 ≤
where 𝜃 is the angle between the vectors ∇𝑓 and 𝑏.
cos 𝜃 ≤ 1, 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 − ∇𝑓 ≤ 𝐷𝑏 𝑓 ≤ ∇𝑓 .
The maximum value of directional derivative is ∇𝑓 and it occurs
when 𝜃 = 0 that is 𝑏 has direction of ∇𝑓.
And the minimum value of directional derivative is − ∇𝑓 and it
occurs at 𝜃 = π, that is ∇𝑓 and 𝑏 have opposite directions.
Conservative field
A vectors field 𝑣ҧ is called conservative if the vector function can be
written as the gradient of a scalar function 𝑓, 𝑖. 𝑒. 𝑣ҧ =∇𝑓.
In such a field the work done in moving a particle from one place to
another is independent of path.
Example 6. Show that the vector field defined by the vector function
is conservative.
𝑣ҧ = 𝑥𝑦𝑧(𝑦𝑧𝑖Ƹ + 𝑥𝑧𝑗Ƹ + 𝑥𝑦𝑘)
Solution: If the given vector field is conservative then it can be
expressed as the gradient of a scalar function 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 . Hence
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
∇𝑓 = 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘
= 𝑣ҧ = 𝑥𝑦𝑧(𝑦𝑧𝑖Ƹ + 𝑥𝑧𝑗Ƹ + 𝑥𝑦𝑘)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
Comparing, we get
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
= 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 2 , = 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 2 , = 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧.
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
1 2 2 2
Integrating the first equation, we get 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 + 𝑔 𝑦, 𝑧 .
2
Substituting in the second equation, we get
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑔 𝜕𝑔
= 𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 2 = 2 2
𝑥 𝑦𝑧 + or = 0 or 𝑔 = 𝑔 𝑧 .
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
Substituting in the third equation, we get
𝜕𝑓 𝑑𝑔 𝑑𝑔
= 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧+ or = 0 or 𝑔 = 𝑐, 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡.
𝜕𝑧 𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑧
1 2 2 2
Hence, 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 + 𝑐 . Therefore, there exist a scalar
2
function 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 such that ∇𝑓 = 𝑣ҧ and the vector field is
conservative.
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Assignment
(i) Find the gradient o𝑓 𝑙𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 𝑎𝑡 (1,2, −1)
(ii) Find the normal vector and the unit normal vector to the
given surface (curve) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25 at (3,4).
(iii) Find the directional derivative of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 +
2𝑧 2 𝑎𝑡 1,1,2 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑓 .
Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ
3𝑖+4
Ans: (i) (𝑖Ƹ + 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑘)/2 𝑖𝑖 2 3𝑖Ƹ + 4𝑗Ƹ , (iii) 2 18
5
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