Chapter 4: Partial Differentiation
Section 4.4: Directional Derivative
Example 4.4.8
At point P, the directional derivative of g in the direction u=2 i−3 j is 8, but in the direction v=5 i+4 j, it's −6. Find the directional derivative of g in the direction w=7 i−2 j.
Solution
Mathematical Solution
The unknowns in this example are a=gxP, b=gyP, and λ=DwgP. The gradient of g at P can be found from the known values of the directional derivatives in the directions u and v. From this, the value of the directional derivative in the direction w can be computed.
∇gP·u/u=8
⇒ab·1132−3=8
⇒2 a13⁢−3 b13=8
∇gP·v/v=−6
⇒ab·14154=−6
⇒5 a41+4 b41=−6
∇gP·w/w=λ
⇒ab·(1537−2)=λ
⇒7 a53−2 b53⁢=λ
From the first two equations, ∇gP=ab=3223⁢13−1823⁢41−4023⁢13−1223⁢41, from which it follows that
DwgP=λ=3041219⁢689−1021219⁢2173
Maple Solution - Interactive
Initialize
Tools≻Load Package: Student Multivariate Calculus
Loading Student:-MultivariateCalculus
Context Panel: Assign Name
u=2,−3→assign
v=5,4→assign
w=7,−2→assign
Obtain and solve the equations a=gxP,b=gyP, and λ=DwgP
Common Symbols palette: Dot product operator
Context Panel: Solve≻Solve
Context Panel: Select Element≻3
Context Panel: Combine≻radical
ab·uu=8,ab·v∥v∥=−6,ab·ww=λ
213⁢a⁢13−313⁢b⁢13=8,541⁢a⁢41+441⁢b⁢41=−6,753⁢a⁢53−253⁢b⁢53=λ
→solve
a=3223⁢13−1823⁢41,b=−4023⁢13−1223⁢41,λ=3041219⁢53⁢13−1021219⁢53⁢41
→select entry 3
λ=3041219⁢53⁢13−1021219⁢53⁢41
= combine
λ=3041219⁢689−1021219⁢2173
Maple Solution - Coded
Install the Student MultivariateCalculus package.
withStudent:-MultivariateCalculus:
Define the vectors ∇g, u, v, and w.
Gg,u,v,w≔a,b,2,−3,5,4,7,−2:
Form the three equations ∇gP·u/u=8,∇gP·v/v=−6,∇gP·w/w=λ
Apply the DotProduct and Normalize commands.
q1≔DotProductGg,Normalizeu=8:q2≔DotProductGg,Normalizev=−6:q3≔DotProductGg,Normalizew=λ:
Solve for a=gxP,b=gyP, and λ=DwgP
Apply the solve command, then the combine command to simplify the resulting radicals
combinesolveq1,q2,q3,a,b,λ
a=3223⁢13−1823⁢41,b=−4023⁢13−1223⁢41,λ=3041219⁢689−1021219⁢2173
<< Previous Example Section 4.4 Next Section >>
© Maplesoft, a division of Waterloo Maple Inc., 2024. All rights reserved. This product is protected by copyright and distributed under licenses restricting its use, copying, distribution, and decompilation.
For more information on Maplesoft products and services, visit www.maplesoft.com
Download Help Document