Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.

notebook December 15, 2015

Section 14.6: Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector

Find the first order partial derivatives of

Jul 16­8:35 AM

Recall:
If z = f(x,y) then

­ fx(x0, y0) is the rate of change of z in the direction

parallel to the x­axis

­ fy(x0, y0) is the rate of change of z in the direction

parallel to the y­axis

What about the rate of change of z in other directions?

Jul 16­8:51 AM

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

We want to find the rate of change of z at (x0, y0, z0)

in the direction of an arbitrary unit vector

Surface S with equation z = f(x,y)

The vertical plane that passes through

P in the direction of u intersects S
in a curve C.

The slope of the tangent line T to C

at the point P is the rate of change
of z in the direction of u.

Jul 16­8:53 AM

Let Q(x,y,z) be another point on C.

Project P and Q onto the xy ­ plane

to get P' and Q'.

Jul 16­9:00 AM

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

The directional derivative of f(x,y) in the direction of u at (x0, y0)

It is more practical to find by using the gradient.

Gradient of a function of two variables z = f(x,y):

Jul 16­9:06 AM

If you want to know the rate of change of f in the direction of an

angle θ with the positive x­axis, then

Jul 16­9:16 AM

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

Dec 15­8:39 AM

Find the directional derivative of

in the direction of both ­i ­ j and i + j

Jul 16­8:44 AM

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

Find the directional derivative of

at P(­2,0) in the direction of

Jul 16­8:44 AM

Find the directional derivative of

in the direction of

Jul 16­8:44 AM

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

Find the directional derivative of

at the point P(1, 0, ­3)in the direction of

Jul 16­8:44 AM

The maximum value of the directional derivative at (x0, y0) is

and occurs when u has the same direction as

The minimum value of the directional derivative at (x0, y0) is

and occurs when u has the opposite direction as

Jul 16­9:41 AM

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

Find the maximum slope of the function at the given point.

Jul 16­11:29 AM

29. Find all points at which the direction of fastest change of the
function is i + j

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

The gradient vector is perpendicular to the level curve f(x,y) = k

that passes through the point P(x0, y0)

On a topographical map, if f(x,y) represents the elevation at a

point with coordinates (x,y), the path of steepest ascent is
perpendicular to all the contour lines

Jul 16­9:45 AM

Let S be a surface with equation F(x,y,z) = k

­ S is a level surface of function F of 3 variables

Let P(x0, y0, z0) be a point on S.

Let C be any curve that lies

on the surface S and passes
through point P.

Let C be defined by

Any point on C is also on S

Jul 16­11:15 AM

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

If x, y and z are differentiable functions of t and F is also

differentiable then

Another way to write this is: Let t0 be the parameter value

corresponding to P.

The tangent vector r'(t0) lies in the

tangent plane to the surface S at
the point P

is the normal vector to the tangent

plane to S at P

Jul 16­11:21 AM

Let S be the surface

An equation for the tangent plane to S at (1,2,­1) is

Jul 16­11:26 AM

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Section 14.6 ­ Directional Derivatives and the Gradient Vector.notebook December 15, 2015

Gradient Vector:
­ normal vector to a surface
­direction of greatest change
­perpendicular vector to contour curves and surfaces
­vector with length equal to the maximum value
of the directional derivative

Jul 16­8:40 AM

34. Suppose you are climbing a hill whose shape is given by the
equation

where x, y and z are measured in meters, and you are standing at a

point with coordinates (60, 40, 966). The positive x­axis points east
and the positive y­axis points north.

a. If you walk due south, will you start to ascend or descend? At

what rate?
b. If you walk northwest, will you start to ascend or descend? At
what rate?
c. In which direction is the slope largest? What is the rate of ascent
in that direction? At what angle above the horizontal does the path
in that direction begin?

Jul 16­12:48 PM

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