Math 232 - Calculus IV

Homework due April 8

Given a vector field F(x, y, z) = hM (x, y, z), N (x, y, z), P (x, y, z)i , we can
compute another related vector field called the curl of F, obtained by taking
a cross product with the ∇ operator:
 
i j k
∂ ∂ ∂ 
curl F = ∇ × F = det  ∂x ∂y ∂z =
M N P
 
∂P ∂N ∂M ∂P ∂N ∂M
− , − , − .
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y

Question 1. Let f (x, y, z) be a three-variable scalar function. Show explic-

itly that computing the gradient of f and then the curl of that gradient will
always yield the zero vector. In other words, show that
curl (∇f ) = ∇ × (∇f ) = h0, 0, 0i .

Question 2. In class, we frequently regarded the two dimensional vector field

F(x, y) = hM (x, y), N (x, y)i as a three-dimensional vector field by writing it
as
F(x, y, z) = hM (x, y), N (x, y), 0i ,
where M and N are written in only the variables x and y with no z’s.
Compute the curl of this vector field and show that, as seen in class, the curl
of these kind of vector fields only have a k component and thus always point
perpendicular to the xy-plane.

In class, we learned that, given a vector field

F(x, y, z) = hM (x, y, z), N (x, y, z), P (x, y, z)i ,
we can obtain a scalar function by computing the divergence of F by taking
the dot product of this vector field with the ∇ operator:
 
∂ ∂ ∂
div F = ∇ · F = , , · hM, N, P i =
∂x ∂y ∂z
∂M ∂N ∂P
+ + .
∂x ∂y ∂z

Question 3. In Question 1, you showed that computing the gradient and

then the curl will always yield the zero vector. In this question, you will
show that taking the curl and then the divergence of a vector field will yield
the zero function. Let F(x, y, z) = hM, N, P i . Show that
div (curl F) = ∇ · (∇ × F) = 0

1
In class, we learned about Green’s Theorem, which related a double integral
on a 2-dimensional region D with a line integral on C, the boundary of D
oriented counterclockwise. It is given by
I I ZZ
∂N ∂M
F · ds = M dx + N dy = − dA
C C D ∂x ∂y

Question 4. In this question, we will verify that Green’s Theorem is true

my computing both the line integral and the double integral and verifying
that we get the same answer. Consider the vector field

F(x, y) = hM, N i = hxy, xi .

Consider the 2-dimensional region D in the first quadrant that is bound by

y = x and y = x2 .

∂N ∂M
(a) Compute − .
∂x ∂y
(b) Compute the double integral
ZZ
∂N ∂M
− dA
D ∂x ∂y

(c) The curve C is the boundary of D, oriented counterclockwise. Integrate

the vector field F over the curve.
I
F · ds.
C

When you do this, note that you will have to perform the computation
in pieces; once along the bottom curve y = x2 and then along y = x.

(d) Verify that, as promised by Green’s Theorem, the double integral and
the line integral produce the same answer.