Section 4.

4 - Divergence and Curl

Problem 1. Compute div F for F = (x2 y, xyz, −x2 y 2 ).

Solution.
∂ 2 ∂ ∂
div F = (x y) + (xyz) + (−x2 y 2 )
∂x ∂y ∂z
= 2xy + xz.

Problem 2. Let f be a C 2 function. Prove that

curl grad (f ) = ∇ × (∇f ) = 0.

That is, prove that the curl of any gradient is the 0 vector.

Proof. We know from definition that

 
∂f ∂f ∂f
∇f = , , .
∂x ∂y ∂z

Now we take the curl of the vector above,

 
î ĵ k̂
∂ ∂ ∂
∇ × (∇f ) = det  ∂x ∂y ∂z 
∂f ∂f ∂f
∂x ∂y ∂z

∂ 2f ∂ 2f ∂ 2f ∂ 2f ∂ 2f ∂ 2f
     
= − î − − ĵ + − k̂.
∂y∂z ∂z∂y ∂z∂x ∂x∂z ∂x∂y ∂y∂x

By Clairaut’s Theorem, we know that the mixed partials are equal for C 2 functions, thus,
 2
∂ 2f
 2
∂ 2f
 2
∂ 2f
  
∂ f ∂ f ∂ f
∇ × (∇f ) = − î − − ĵ + − k̂
∂y∂z ∂z∂y ∂z∂x ∂x∂z ∂x∂y ∂y∂x
= 0î + 0ĵ + 0k̂ = 0.

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Problem 3. Show that div curl F = 0 for F = yz 2 î + xy ĵ + yz k̂.

Solution. First we take the curl of our vector field:

 
î ĵ k̂
curl F = det  ∂x ∂ ∂
∂y
∂ 
∂z
= z î + 2yz ĵ + (y − z 2 )k̂.
yz 2 xy yz

Now we take the divergence of the curl and show that we get 0:
∂ ∂ ∂
div curl F = (z) + (2yz) + (y − z 2 ) = 2z − 2z = 0.
∂x ∂y ∂z

Problem 4. (Exercise 4.4.34) Show that F = (x2 + y 2 )î − 2xy ĵ is not a gradient field.

Solution. If F were a gradient field, then curl F would be equal to 0. So let us take curl F .
 
î ĵ k̂
∂ ∂ ∂ 
∇ × F = det  ∂x ∂y ∂z
= (−2y − 2y)k̂ = −4y k̂ 6= 0.
x2 + y 2 −2xy 0

Hence, F is not a gradient field.

Problem 5. Show that ∇f × ∇g is incompressible.

Solution. Incompressible means the divergence is 0. So let us take the divergence.

div (∇f × ∇g) = ∇g · curl (∇f ) − ∇f · curl (∇g) by Property 8

= ∇g · (∇ × ∇f ) − ∇f · (∇ × ∇g) (rewritting curl)
= ∇g · 0 − ∇f · 0 by Property 11
= 0.

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Note: These notes and problems are meant to follow along with Vector Calculus by Jerrold
Marsden and Anthony Tromba, Sixth Edition. The pictures were generated using Wolfram
Alpha.