Lecture 6
Gradient and Directional Derivatives
Dr Lau Ee Von
vector field/function
Directional Derivative
grad or = vector field Definition: The rate of change of (, , ) in the x,y,z-coordinate axes direction
Directional Derivative
Directional derivative of a function , , at a point, P =
s P
0
() lim 0
s is the arc length of line L |s| is the distance between P0 and Q s>0 if Q lies in the direction of s<0 if Q lies in the direction of
Directional Derivative
Directional derivative of a function , , at a point, P0 =
s P0
(0 ) lim 0
Directional Derivative
Directional derivative of a function , , at a point, P0 =
= + + =
= =
Directional Derivative
Directional derivative of a function , , at a point, P0 =
= = 1 = = ||
Directional Derivative
Example Find the directional derivative of , , = 2 2 + 3 2 + 2 at P (2,1,3) in the direction of a = [1, 0, -2]
1 = || = , , = [4, 6, 2] () = 8, 6, 6
1 12 + (2)2
= 1.789
1,0, 2 8,6,6
= cos
If = , then = 0
2
Vector field is perpendicular to the point on curve/surface i.e. surface normal vector,
Confused?
In essence, is constant (i.e. either level curves or level surfaces) = , surface normal vector
The directional derivative, (of a scalar field, ) at a point attains a minimum value when taken in the direction opposite to the gradient of (direction of the steepest ascent is in the opposite direction of the vector field at that point)
= =
+ve -ve
Quotient rule: () () = () [ ]2
Summary
Gradient, of a scalar field = vector field Directional derivative = rate of change of a scalar field at a point P in a specified direction = , surface normal vector for level curves/surfaces