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7a

of the tangent line to the surface at P and

The above result is called the


directional derivative , Duf , of f in
the direction of u , the unit vector
of the line PQ .

slope of this
tangent is
Duf

u = cos + sin
Define

grad f or f
L sin

Duf = u. grad f = u. f
(f is read as del f )

Example:

Source: www.math.harvard.edu/archive/.../11-06b-directional-derivatives.pdf

Find the directional derivative Duf(x, y)


at x=1 and y=2 given that:
f(x, y) = x3 3xy + 4y2
u is the unit vector with angle = /6

Du f ( x, y ) f x ( x, y ) cos
(3x 2 3 y )

f y ( x, y )sin

7b

3
(3 x 8 y ) 12
2

12 3 3x 2 3x 8 3 3 y

Du f (1, 2) 12 3 3(1) 2 3(1) 8 3 3 (2)

13 3 3
2

note: f(1,2) = 11 and the point on the surface is (1,2,11)

Duf - This is the slope of the tangent line to the curve at


the point (1,2,11) , the blue dot
, and lies in the vertical
plane through (1, 2, 0) in the direction of u.

=
curve: intersection of
f(x,y) and the vertical
plane

7c

For a function of 3 variables , f(x,y,z),


f (x,y,z)

f
+
y

f
+
z

Duf(x,y,z) = f (x,y,z) . u
Write

f (x,y,z) . u = | f ||u|cos = | f |cos

where is the angle between u and f, and = 1


Results: i. maximum value of Duf is |f |
ii. it occurs at =0 and f is in the direction of u

Let the surface S in space be such that


f(x,y,z) = k ; k=constant

7d

Let r(t) = ( x(t) y(t) z(t) ) be a point q


of a curve C in space . For C to lie on S,
q

f(x(t) ,y(t) ,z(t)) = k


dr/dt

Differentiate the above equation wrt to t ,


f
x

x +

f
y

f . r = 0

y +

f
z

z = 0

TP = Tangent Plane to S at q.

where x=dx/dt , y=dy/dt and z=dz/dt


where r = dr/dt and at the point q it is a
tangent vector to the surface S and curve C.

Another curve C1 can be drawn to lie on S and passes through the point q.

The two (or many ) tangent vectors formed


a tangent plane at the point q as shown in
the diagram.
From f . r = 0
or f is perpendicular to r
it can be seen that is the
normal to the surface S at
the point q.

7e

Note: The 3 tangent vectors lie in TP.


TP = Tangent Plane to S at q

source: ESSENTIAL CALCULUS CH11 Partial derivatives

Examples

y
q

Case 1 (2D): Consider a circle with the following equation:


y2 + x2 = r2 ; r is the radius , a constant
Let f(x,y) = y2 + x2 - r2 = 0 then
f = 2x i + 2y j

At any point q = (a , b) on the circle, the normal is a straight line


passing through the origin and this point.
Case 2 (3D): Consider a sphere with the following
equation:
z2 + y2 + x 2 = 1
Let f(x,y,z) = z2 + y2 + x2 - 1 = 0 then
f = 2x i + 2y j + 2z k
At any point q = (a , b, c) on the sphere, the normal
is a straight line passing through the origin and this
point.

7f

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