Directional Derivatives

Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis

❑ Partial Derivatives
𝑓𝑥 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ): Instantaneous rate of change of 𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚 in the 𝒙-direction at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )
𝑓𝑦 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ): Instantaneous rate of change of 𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚 in the 𝒚-direction at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )

𝑓𝑥 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ): Gradient of the surface 𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚 in the 𝒙-direction at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) along 𝐶1

𝑓𝑦 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ): Gradient of the surface 𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚 in the 𝒚-direction at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) along 𝐶2

2 November 2021 Lesson 06: Directional Derivatives 1

 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Directional Derivatives (𝐷𝒖 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ))
• Compute the rates of change of a function with respect to unit distance in any direction.

• 𝐷𝒖 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) represents the slope of the surface 𝒛 = 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) in the direction of 𝒖 at the
point (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )).

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Directional Derivatives (𝐷𝒖 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ))
Definition. If 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is differentiable at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ), and if 𝒖 = 𝑢1 𝒊 + 𝑢2 𝒋 is a unit
vector, then the directional derivative 𝐷𝒖 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) exists and is given by
𝐷𝒖 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 = 𝑓𝑥 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 𝑢1 + 𝑓𝑦 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 𝑢2
3 1
Example. For 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦, find and interpret 𝐷𝒖 𝑓(1,2) for the unit vector 𝒖 = 2
𝒊 + 2 𝒋.

Solution. Here, 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦, and 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥. Therefore,

3 1 3 1
𝐷𝑢 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦+ 𝑥
2 𝑥 2 2 2
3 1 1
∴ 𝐷𝑢 𝑓 1, 2 = ⋅ 2 + ⋅ 1 = + 3 ≈ 2.23
2 2 2
Thus, 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) will increase by about 2.23 times if one moves per unit distance
along the direction of 𝒖.

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Directional Derivatives (𝐷𝒖 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ))

Example. Find the directional derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 at (−2, 0) in the

𝜋
direction of the unit vector that makes an angle of with the positive 𝑥-axis.
3

Solution. Here, 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦 , 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑒 𝑥𝑦
𝑥 𝑦

𝜋 𝜋 1 3
and 𝒖 = cos 𝒊 + sin 𝒋 ⇒ 𝒖 = 2𝒊 + 𝒋
3 3 2

1 3 1 3 𝑥𝑦
𝐷𝒖 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 + 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥𝑒
2 2 2 2

3
∴ 𝐷𝒖 𝑓 −2, 0 = 0 + ⋅ −2 𝑒 0 = − 3
2

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Directional Derivatives (𝐷𝒖 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ))
Definition. If 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is differentiable at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ), and if 𝒖 = 𝑢1 𝒊 + 𝑢2 𝒋 + 𝑢3 𝒌 is
a unit vector, then the directional derivative 𝐷𝑢 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) exists and is given by
𝐷𝒖 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 = 𝑓𝑥 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 𝑢1 + 𝑓𝑦 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 𝑢2 + 𝑓𝑧 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 𝑢3

Example. Find the directional derivative of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑦𝑧 3 + 𝑧 at (1, −2, 0) in the

direction of the vector 𝒂 = 2𝒊 + 𝒋 − 2𝒌.

Therefore, the directional derivative yields,

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Gradient of 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚), 𝛁𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚
Definition. If 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is differentiable at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ), and if 𝒖 = 𝑢1 𝒊 + 𝑢2 𝒋 is a unit vector,
then the directional derivative 𝐷𝑢 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) exists and is given by
𝐷𝒖 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 = 𝑓𝑥 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 𝑢1 + 𝑓𝑦 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 𝑢2 = 𝑓𝑥 𝒊 + 𝑓𝑦 𝒋 ⋅ (𝑢1 𝒊 + 𝑢2 𝒋)

𝛁𝒇 𝒙𝟎 , 𝒚𝟎

Definition. If 𝑓 is a function of 𝑥 and 𝑦, then the gradient of 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) is defined by

𝛁𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦 𝒊 + 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦 𝒋
Definition. If 𝑓 is a function of 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧, then the gradient of 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) is defined by
𝛁𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑓𝑥 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝒊 + 𝑓𝑦 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝒋 + 𝑓𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝒌

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Properties of 𝛁𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚
Definition. If 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is differentiable at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ), and if 𝒖 = 𝑢1 𝒊 + 𝑢2 𝒋 is a unit vector,
then the directional derivative 𝐷𝑢 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) exists and is given by
𝐷𝒖 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 = 𝑓𝑥 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 𝑢1 + 𝑓𝑦 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 𝑢2 = 𝑓𝑥 𝒊 + 𝑓𝑦 𝒋 ⋅ 𝑢1 𝒊 + 𝑢2 𝒋
⇒ 𝐷𝒖 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 = 𝛁𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ⋅ 𝒖 = 𝛁𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 𝒖 cos 𝜃 = 𝛁𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 cos 𝜃
where 𝜃 is the angle between 𝛁𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 and 𝒖. Here,
i. the value of 𝐷𝒖 𝑓 at the point 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 gets maximum when 𝜃 = 0,
i.e., when 𝛁𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) and 𝒖 align in the same direction. The
maximum value of 𝐷𝒖 𝑓 at 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 becomes ∥ 𝛁𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) ∥.
ii. at (𝑥, 𝑦), the surface 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) has its maximum slope in the
direction of the gradient, and the maximum slope is ∥ 𝛁𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) ∥.
iii. at (𝑥, 𝑦), the surface 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) has its minimum slope in the
direction of the gradient, and the minimum slope is −∥ 𝛁𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) ∥.
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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Gradient of 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚), 𝛁𝒇 𝒙, 𝒚
Example. Let 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑒 𝑦 . Find the maximum value of a directional derivative at (−2, 0),
and find the unit vector in the direction in which the maximum value occurs.

Therefore,

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Exercise Set 13.6
Find 𝐷𝒖 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) at 𝑃.

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Exercise Set 13.6
Find the directional derivative of 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) at 𝑃 in the direction of 𝒂.

More Problems:
19, 21, 23, 25,26,

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Exercise Set 13.6

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 Directional Derivatives
Ref. Textbook: Calculus (10th ed.) by Anton, Bivens and Davis
❑ Exercise Set 13.6

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