Devin Smittle

Math 4900
Homework Three
10 February 2011

8.14.3
Find the points (x, y) and the directions for which the directional derivative
of f (x, y) = 3x2 + y 2 has its largest value, if (x, y) is restricted to be on the
circle x2 + y 2 = 1.

solution
Let u = (a, b) be an arbitrary unit vector. The directional derivative of
f with respect to u at a point z is ∇f (z) · u = ∂f∂x(z) a + ∂f∂y(z) b = 6ax +
2by. This is maximized when (a, b) and ∇f (z)are parallel, so let u =
∇f (z) ∂f (z) ∂f (z)
k∇f (z)k
, and thus we maximize r 1
∂x ∂x
+ ∂f∂y(z) ∂f∂y(z) =
∂f (z) 2 ∂f (z) 2
( ∂x ) +( ∂y )
p
36x2 + 4y 2 on the unit circle or just 36x2 + 4y 2 , since the square root is
increasing. Let us work with polar coordinates, so we wish to maximize
g(t) = 6(cos t)2 + 2(sin t)2 , t ∈ [0, 2π). Using calculus, the critical points are
where −12 cos t sin t + 4 cos t sin t = 0 which is true only when cos t or sin t
is 0: tcritical ∈ {0, π2 , π, 3π
2
}. The value of g at each of these critical points is
the same so they describe the all the sought after directions as an angle and
describe all the sought after points (x, y) as projections onto the unit circle.

8.14.6
Given a scalar field differentiable at a point a ∈ R2 . Suppose that f 0 (a; y) = 1
and f 0 (a; z) = 2, where y = 2i + 3j and z = i + j. Make a sketch showing
the set of all points (x, y) for which f 0 (a; xi + yj) = 6. Also, calculate the
gradient ∇f (a).

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solution
∂f (a) ∂f (a)
We have ∇f (a) · (2i + 3j) = 1 and ∇f (a) · (i + j) = 2, so ∂x
2 + ∂y
3 =1
and ∂f∂x(a) + ∂f∂y(a) = 2. Solving this system, we get ∂f (a)
∂x
= 5 and ∂f (a)
∂y
= −3,
so ∇f (a) = (5, −3).

8.14.7
Let f and g denote scalar fields that are differentiable on an open set S.
Derive the following properties of the gradient:

(a) ∇f = 0 if f is constant on S.

(b) ∇(f + g) = ∇f + ∇g.

(c) ∇(cf ) = c∇f if c is a constant.

(d) ∇(f g) = f ∇g + g∇f .

 
(e) ∇ fg = g∇fg−f2
∇g
at points at which g 6= 0.

solution (a)
Since f is differentiable at any a ∈ S, the derivative f 0 (a; y) for any y exists.
We have f 0 (a; y) = ∇f (a) · y = 0. From our last homework, problem 8.9.21,
f is constant on S.

solution (b)
 
∇(f + g) = k=1 ∂f∂x+g ∂f ∂g ∂f ∂g
P P P
k
e k = k=1 ( ∂xk + ∂xk
)ek = k=1 e
∂xk k
+ e
∂xk k
=
P ∂f P ∂g
k=1 ∂xk ek + k=1 ∂xk ek = ∇f + ∇g.

solution (c)
P ∂cf P ∂f
Similarly, ∇(cf ) = k=1 ∂xk ek = ··· = c k=1 ∂xk ek = c∇f.

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solution (d)
P  ∂g 
Again, ∇(f g) = k=1 ∂(f g) ∂f ∂g
P P
∂xk k
e = k=1 f ∂xk + ∂xk
g ek = k=1 f ∂x k
ek +
P ∂f
k=1 ∂xk gek = f ∇g + g∇f.

solution (e)
∂f ∂g
∂ fg g ∂x −f ∂x
 
f P P
∇ g
= k=1 e =
∂xk k k=1
k
ek where g 6= 0. Simplifying, we get
g2
k

  !
f 1 X ∂f X ∂g 1
∇ = 2 g −f = 2 (g∇f − f ∇g) .
g g k=1
∂xk k=1
∂xk g

8.14.8
In R3 let r(x, y, z) = xi + yj + zk, and let r(x, y, z) = kr(x, y, z)k.
(a) Show that ∇r(x, y, z) is a unit vector is the direction of r(x, y, z).
(b) Show that ∇(rn ) = nrn−2 r if n is a positive integer.
(c) Is the formula of part (b) valid when n is a negative integer or zero?
(d) Find a scalar field f such that ∇f = r.

solution (a)
p
We have that r(x, y, z) = kr(x, y, z)k = x2 + y 2 + z 2 . Therefore by just
calculating the gradient directly we get this:
!
x y z
∇r(x, y, z) = p ,p ,p .
x2 + y 2 + z 2 x2 + y 2 + z 2 x2 + y 2 + z 2
1
Clearly, ∇r(x, y, z) = kr(x,y,z)k
r(x, y, z) which is a unit vector is the direction
of r(x, y, z).

solution (b)
We just showed it is true for n = 1. By induction, ∇ (rn r) = r∇rn + rn rr =
nrn−1 r + rn−1 r = (n + 1)rn−1 r.

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solution (c)
It’s easy to see it is true for n = 0. We can show it is true for negative integers
too by proving the formula ∇r−n = −nr−n−2 r is true for positive integers.
Using 8.14.7.e, ∇r−1 = − ∇r r2
= −r−3 r. Again by induction, ∇r−n−1 =
∇r r = r ∇r + r ∇r = −nr−n−3 r − rn−3 r = (−n − 1)r−n−3 r.
−n −1 −1 −n −n −1

solution (d)
f (x, y, z) = 12 (x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) works.

8.14.10
Assume f is differentiable at each point of an n-ball B(a).

(a) If ∇f (x) = 0 for every x ∈ B(a), prove that f is constant on B(a).

(b) If f (x) ≤ f (a) for all x ∈ B(a), prove that ∇f (a) = 0.

solution (a)
By 8.14.7, f is constant on the interior of B(a). Let x be on the boundary
and let y = z − x for z in the interior. Then f (z) − f (x) = f (a) − f (x) =
∇f (x) · y + kykE(x; y) = kykE(x; y). Passing the limit y → 0, we get
f (a) = f (x).

solution (b)
Let y be any vector so that x = a + y ∈ B(a). Then f (x) − f (a) =
∇f (a) · y + kykE(a; y) ≤ 0 whence ∇f (a) · y ≤ 0 (just divide by kyk and
take the limit to find the directional derivative.). If we have ∇f (a) · y < 0,
then ∇f (a) · (−y) > 0 but since a + (−y) ∈ B(a), this is a contradiction of
what we just showed. Thus ∇f (a) · y = 0 and it follows that ∇f (a) = 0.