Question

(a) (i) Find the gradient of f. (ii) Determine the direction in which f decreases most rapidly at the point (1, −1). At what rate is f decreasing? (b) (i) Find the gradient of F. (ii) Find the directional derivative of F at the point (1, 1, −5) in the direction of the vector a = 2 i + 3 j − √ 3 k.

Answer 1

Question:

Problem 14. Let f(x, y) = (x^2)y*(e^(x−1)) + 2xy^2 and F(x, y, z) = x^2 + 3yz + 4xy.

(a) (i) Find the gradient of f.

(ii) Determine the direction in which f decreases most rapidly at the point (1, −1). At what rate is f decreasing?

(b) (i) Find the gradient of F.

(ii) Find the directional derivative of F at the point (1, 1, −5) in the direction of the vector a = 2 i + 3 j − √ 3 k.

Answer:

The answers to the question are

(a) (i)  the gradient of f =  ((y·x² + 2·y·x)·eˣ⁻¹ + 2·y² )i + (x²·eˣ⁻¹+4·y·x) j

(ii) The direction in which f decreases most rapidly at the point (1, −1), ∇f(x, y) = -1·i -3·j is the y direction.

The rate is f decreasing is -3 .

(b) (i) The gradient of F is (2·x+4·y)i + (3·z+4·x)j + 3·y·k

(ii) The directional derivative of F at the point (1, 1, −5) in the direction of the vector a = 2 i + 3 j − √ 3 k is  ñ∙∇F =  4·x +⅟4 (8-3√3)y+ 9/4·z at (1, 1, −5)

4 +⅟4 (8-3√3)+ 9/4·(-5) = -6.549 .

Explanation:

f(x, y) = x²·y·eˣ⁻¹+2·x·y²

The gradient of f = grad f(x, y) = ∇f(x, y) = ∂f/∂x i+  ∂f/∂y j = = (∂x²·y·eˣ⁻¹+2·x·y²)/∂x i+  (∂x²·y·eˣ⁻¹+2·x·y²)/∂y j

= ((y·x² + 2·y·x)·eˣ⁻¹ + 2·y² )i + (x²·eˣ⁻¹+4·y·x) j

(ii) at the point (1, -1) we have  

∇f(x, y) = -1·i -3·j  that is the direction in which f decreases most rapidly at the point (1, −1) is the y direction.  

The rate is f decreasing is -3

(b) F(x, y, z) = x² + 3·y·z + 4·x·y.

The gradient of F is given by grad F(x, y, z)  = ∇F(x, y, z) = = ∂f/∂x i+  ∂f/∂y j+∂f/∂z k = (2·x+4·y)i + (3·z+4·x)j + 3·y·k

(ii) The directional derivative of F at the point (1, 1, −5) in the direction of the vector a = 2·i + 3·j −√3·k

The magnitude of the vector 2·i +3·j -√3·k is √(2²+3²+(-√3)² ) = 4, the unit vector is therefore  

ñ = ⅟4(2·i +3·j -√3·k)  

The directional derivative is given by ñ∙∇F = ⅟4(2·i +3·j -√3·k)∙( (2·x+4·y)i + (3·z+4·x)j + 3·y·k)  

= ⅟4 (2((2·x+4·y))+3(3·z+4·x)- √3∙3·y) = 4·x +⅟4 (8-3√3)y+ 9/4·z at point (1, 1, −5) = -6.549