Math 2011-Introduction to Multivariable Calculus (Edited by Dr.

Hon-Ming HO)
Practice Exercises 10: Gradient Vectors and Directional Derivatives

Exercise 1:

Find the derivative of the functions below at point 𝑃0 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) in the specified direction of 𝑣⃑

a) Function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥𝑦 at point 𝑃0 (5 ,5) in direction of 𝑣⃑ =< 4 ,3 > .

𝑦 𝑥𝑦
b) Function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 −1 ( ) + √3𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 ( ) at point 𝑃0 (1 ,1) in direction of 𝑣⃑ =< 3 , −2 > .
𝑥 2
c) Function ℎ(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = cos(𝑥𝑦) + 𝑒 𝑦𝑧 + ln|𝑥𝑧| at point 𝑃0 (1 ,0 , 0.5) in the direction of 𝑣⃑ =< 1 ,2 ,2 > .

Solution to Exercise 1:

We are required to find directional derivative (𝐷𝑢⃑⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) at the specific point in the given direction. There are two ways to find
the desired directional derivatives for three parts above.

The 1st way is to apply the limit definition of directional derivative.

Assume that ⃑⃑ is a unit vector. Recall the limit definitions of directional derivatives.
𝒖
𝑓(𝑥0 + ℎ𝑢1 , 𝑦0 + ℎ𝑢2 ) − 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )
2 − variable version: (𝐷𝑢⃑⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = (𝐷<𝑢1 ,𝑢2> 𝑓)(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) = lim .
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑓(𝑥0 + ℎ𝑢1 , 𝑦0 + ℎ𝑢2 , 𝑧0 + ℎ𝑢3 ) − 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 )
3 − variable version: (𝐷𝑢⃑⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = (𝐷<𝑢1 ,𝑢2 ,𝑢3> 𝑓)(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) = lim .
ℎ→0 ℎ

Part a) (the 1st method):

1) Things to do: Normalize the given vector 𝑣⃑ . In this example, since the given vector 𝑣⃑ =< 4 ,3 > is not a unit vector,
to compute the desired directional derivative, we first make it unit vector by dividing it by its length.
𝑣⃑ < 4 ,3 > 4 3
𝑢
⃑⃑ = = =< , > .
|𝑣⃑| √42 + 32 5 5
2) Things to do: Plug the components of the unit vector in step 1) into the working formulas of 𝑓 to compute difference
quotient. In part a), we obtain the following difference quotient.
4 3 4 3
𝑓 (5 + ℎ ( ) , 5 + ℎ ( )) − 𝑓(5,5) (5 + ℎ ( )) (5 + ℎ ( )) − (5)(5)
𝑓(𝑥0 + ℎ𝑢1 , 𝑦0 + ℎ𝑢2 ) − 𝑓(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) 5 5 5 5
= = ,
ℎ ℎ ℎ

Practice Exercises 10 (edited by Dr. Hon-Ming HO)-page 1

 12 12
25 + 4ℎ + 3ℎ + ℎ2 ( ) − 25 7ℎ + ℎ2 ( )
= 25 = 25 = 7 + ℎ (12) .
ℎ ℎ 25
3) Things to do: Take limit of the expression obtained in step 2) by letting ℎ → 0 . In part a), we obtain
12
(𝐷𝑢⃑⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = (𝐷 4 3 𝑓) (5 ,5) = lim 7 + ℎ ( ) = 7 .
< , >
5 5 ℎ→0 25
The 2nd way is to apply the following theorem:

Theorem (using gradient to find directional derivatives):

If 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥 , 𝑦) is differentiable at 𝑃0 (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) and 𝑢

⃑ =< 𝑢1 , 𝑢2 > is a unit vector, then the directional derivative of 𝑓
at 𝑃0 in the direction of 𝑢
⃑ is given by

(𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = 𝑢
⃑ ⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) .

Part a) (the 2nd method):

1) Things to do: Normalize the given vector 𝑣⃑ . In this example, since the given vector 𝑣⃑ =< 4 ,3 > is not a unit vector,
to compute the desired directional derivative, we first make it unit vector by dividing it by its length.
𝑣⃑ < 4 ,3 > 4 3
𝑢
⃑⃑ = = =< , > .
|𝑣⃑| √42 + 32 5 5
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
2) Things to do: Compute partial derivatives , by using various partial differentiation rules (including chain rule).
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Find the gradient vector of the concerned function and evaluate it at the stated point. In this example, the gradient
vector of 𝑓 is given by
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = < , >| = < 𝑦 , 𝑥 >|𝑥=5 ,𝑦=5 =< 5,5 > .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑥=5 ,𝑦=5
3) Things to do: Compute dot product of the unit vector obtained in step 1) and the gradient vector in step 2). In this
example,
4 3 4 3
(𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = 𝑢
⃑ ⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) =< , > ⦁ < 5,5 >= ( ) (5) + ( ) (5) = 7 .
5 5 5 5
Conclusion: Both ways work the same. Both ways give us the same direction derivative.

Part b) (the 2nd method):

1) Things to do: Normalize the given vector 𝑣⃑ . In this example, since the given vector 𝑣⃑ =< 4 ,3 > is not a unit vector, to
compute the desired directional derivative, we first make it unit vector by dividing it by its length.
𝑣⃑ < 3 , −2 > 3 −2
𝑢
⃑⃑ = = =< , > .
|𝑣⃑| √3 + (−2)
2 2 √13 √13
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
2) Things to do: Compute partial derivatives , by using various partial differentiation rules (including chain rule). Find
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
the gradient vector of the concerned function and evaluate it at the stated point. In this example, the gradient vector of 𝑓
is given by
−𝑦 𝑦 1 𝑥
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝑥2 √3 (2) 𝑥 √3 (2) 1 3
(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = < , >| =< + , + >|| =< , > .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑥=1 ,𝑦=1 𝑦 2 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑦 2 𝑥𝑦 2 2 2
1+( ) √1 − ( ) 1 + ( ) √1 − ( )
𝑥 2 𝑥 2 𝑥=1 ,𝑦=1
3) Things to do: Compute dot product of the unit vector obtained in step 1) and the gradient vector in step 2). In this example,
3 −2 1 3 −3
(𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = 𝑢
⃑ ⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) =< , > ⦁ < , >= .
√13 √13 2 2 2√13
𝜕 𝑥𝑦
How do we find [𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 ( )] ?
𝜕𝑥 2

Practice Exercises 10 (edited by Dr. Hon-Ming HO)-page 2

Performing partial differentiation is a kind of pattern recognition, recognizing which differentiation rules are to be applied.
Recognize the pattern of the working formula of the given function 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ .

(Constant Multiple Rule)

(General power rule)
𝑘♦ ∆
ῧ
(General logarithmic rule)
(General exponential rule)
?
𝒍𝒏 | ῧ | ? ? 𝒆ῧ
▭1
?
(÷ Rule) ▭1 + ▭2 (+ Rule) ?
▭2 ?
? 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 ῧ 𝐬𝐢𝐧 ῧ (General sine rule)

? ? ?
𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 ῧ ? ? 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ῧ (General cosine rule)
(▭1 ) ∙ (▭2 ) ?
𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ῧ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 ῧ
(× Rule)

▭1 and ▭2 are expressions in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦 . ῧ , ῧ , ῧ , ῧ , ῧ , ῧ , ῧ , ῧ , ῧ are expressions in terms of 𝑥 and 𝑦 .

𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦
We observe that 𝑠𝑖𝑛 −1 ( ) = 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 ῧ where ῧ = . Then we apply the general arcsine rule for partial differentiation as
2 2
follows:

𝑦
𝜕 𝑥𝑦 𝜕 1 𝜕 1 𝜕 𝑥𝑦 ( )
[𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 ( )] = [𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 ῧ ] = ∙ [ῧ]= ∙ [ ]= 2 .
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 𝑥𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝑥𝑦 2
√1 − ( ῧ ) √1 − ( ) √1 − ( )
2 2

Part c) (the 2nd method):

1) Things to do: Normalize the given vector 𝑣⃑ . In this example, since the given vector 𝑣⃑ =< 1 ,2 ,2 > is not a unit vector, to
compute the desired directional derivative, we first make it unit vector by dividing it by its length.
𝑣⃑ < 1 ,2 ,2 > 1 2 2
𝑢
⃑⃑ = = =< , , > .
|𝑣⃑| √12 + 22 + 22 3 3 3
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
2) Things to do: Compute partial derivatives , , by using various partial differentiation rules (including chain rule).
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
Find the gradient vector of the concerned function and evaluate it at the stated point. In this example, the gradient vector of
𝑓 is given by
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 1 1 1
(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = < , , >| 𝑥=1 = < −𝑦 sin(𝑥𝑦) + , −𝑥 sin(𝑥𝑦) + 𝑧𝑒 𝑦𝑧 , 𝑦𝑒 𝑦𝑧 + >| 𝑥=1 =< 1 , ,2 > .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝑦=0 𝑥 𝑧 𝑦=0 2
𝑧=1/2 𝑧=1/2
3) Things to do: Compute dot product of the unit vector obtained in step 1) and the gradient vector in step 2). In this example,
1 2 2 1 1 2 1 2
(𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = 𝑢
⃑ ⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) =< , , > ⦁ < 1 , ,2 >= ( ) (1) + ( ) ( ) + ( ) (2) = 2 .
3 3 3 2 3 3 2 3

Exercise 2:

Find the unit vectors along which the given functions below increase and decrease most rapidly at 𝑃0 . Then find the derivatives
of the functions in these directions.

A. 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑒 (𝑥𝑦) sin 𝑦 at point 𝑃0 (1 ,0) .

B. 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ln |𝑥𝑦| + ln|𝑦𝑧| + ln |𝑧𝑥| at point 𝑃0 (1 ,1 ,1) .

Solution to Exercise 2:

Part A. The gradient vector of the function evaluated at 𝑃0 (1 ,0) is given by

𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = < , >| = (2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑒 𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑦) 𝑖⃑ + (𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑒 𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑦 + 𝑒 𝑥𝑦 cos 𝑦)𝑗⃑]𝑥=1 ,𝑦=0 = 2𝑗⃑ .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑥=1 ,𝑦=0

Practice Exercises 10 (edited by Dr. Hon-Ming HO)-page 3

 (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃 )
⃑⃑ = |(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0)| = 𝑗⃑ and decreases
Thus the function 𝑓 increases most rapidly at point 𝑃0 (1 ,0) in the direction of the unit vector 𝑢
0
−(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )
most rapidly at point 𝑃0 (1 ,0) in the direction of the unit vector −𝑢
⃑⃑ = |(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )|
= −𝑗⃑ . Moreover, the derivatives’ values along
these two directions are given by

(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )
(𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = 𝑢
⃑ ⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = ⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = |(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )| = 2 ,
|(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )|
−(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )
(𝐷−𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = (−𝑢
⃑ )⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = ⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = −|(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )| = −2 .
|(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )|

(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃 ) 1 1 1 −(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) −1 −1 −1
⃑⃑ = |(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0)| =<
Part B. The desired unit vectors are 𝑢 , , > and −𝑢
⃑⃑ = |(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )|
=< , , > . Moreover, we have
0 √3 √3 √3 √3 √3 √3

(𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = |(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )| = 2√3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝐷−𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = −|(𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 )| = −2√3 .

Exercise 3:

Find an equation of the tangent line to curve 𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 7 at point 𝑃(−𝟏 , 𝟐) .

Solution to Exercise 3:

There are more than one method to find an equation of the desired tangent line at the stated point 𝑃 . We once learnt the first
(non-vectorial) method in Calculus I (math 1013), using the technique of implicit differentiation. We are going to present a vectorial
method. How do we enter into vectorial perspective?

1) Things to do: Find a normal vector to the given plane curve. To find such 𝑦
a normal vector, we treat the given plane curve as a level curve of some
function 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) at a certain height 𝑧 = 𝑐 . In this example, there
are infinitely many possible choices of the target function 𝑓 . One of 𝑃(−𝟏 , 𝟐)
the natural choices is 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 at height 𝑧 = 7 .
We know that the gradient vector 𝛻𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is perpendicular to the
𝑄(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑥
level curve of 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) that passes through point (−𝟏 , 𝟐) . Since
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
𝛻𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) =< , >=< 2𝑥 − 𝑦 , 2𝑦 − 𝑥 > , we have
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜵𝒇(−𝟏 , 𝟐) =< −𝟒 , 𝟓 > which is normal to the level curve (ellipse).

2) Things to do: Use the obtained gradient vector above to construct the equation of the required tangent line. Take a testing
point (𝑥, 𝑦) on the tangent line. The vector from the point of tangency to the testing point must be perpendicular to the
gradient vector. In this example, we let 𝑄(𝑥, 𝑦) be a testing point on the tangent line and 𝑃(−𝟏 , 𝟐) the point of tangency.
Thus we have
⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑃𝑄 ⦁ 𝜵𝒇(−𝟏 , 𝟐) = 0 ⇔ < 𝑥 − (−𝟏) , 𝑦 − 𝟐 > ⦁ < −𝟒 , 𝟓 > = 0

Conclusion: The equation of the required tangent line at point (−1 ,2) is given by −4𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 14 = 0 .

Remark: The second vectorial method can be generalized to find the equation of the tangent plane to a surface at a particular
point.

Exercise 4:

The derivative of 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) at point 𝑃0 (1 ,2) in direction of 𝑖⃑ + 𝑗⃑ is equal to 2√2 and in the direction of −2𝑗⃑ is equal to
−3 . What is the derivative of 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) at the point 𝑃0 (1 ,2) in the direction of −𝑖⃑ − 2𝑗⃑ ? Show your steps.

Solution to Exercise 4:

𝑖⃑+𝑗⃑ 1 1 −2𝑗⃑
The question above is equivalent to the following statement. Let ⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢1 = = 𝑖⃑ + 𝑗⃑ and ⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢2 = = −𝑗⃑ and ⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢3 =
√12 +12 √2 √2 √02 +(−2)2
−𝑖⃑−2𝑗⃑ −1 −2
= 𝑖⃑ + 𝑗⃑ . If (𝐷⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢1 𝑓)(1 ,2) = 2√2 and (𝐷⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢2 𝑓)(1 ,2) = −3 , then what is the value of the directional
√(−1)2 +(−2)2 √5 √5

derivative (𝐷⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢3 𝑓)(1 ,2) ?

Practice Exercises 10 (edited by Dr. Hon-Ming HO)-page 4

 Recall the following identity:

(𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) = 𝑢
⃑ ⦁ (𝛻𝑓)(𝑃0 ) .

The underlying sense of (𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) : The vectorial sense (向量性的意義) of (𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) :

(𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) is the rate of change of the value of 𝑓 at (𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓)(𝑃0 ) can be realized as a dot product of the
the point 𝑃0 along the direction of the unit vector 𝑢
⃑⃑ . direction vector 𝑢
⃑⃑ and the gradient vector of 𝑓 .

1 𝜕𝑓 1 𝜕𝑓
2√2 = (𝐷⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢1 𝑓)(1 ,2) = ∙ (1,2) + ∙ (1,2)
√2 𝜕𝑥 √2 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
−3 = (𝐷⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢2 𝑓)(1 ,2) = 0∙ (1,2) + (−1) (1,2)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
−1 𝜕𝑓 −2 𝜕𝑓
? = (𝐷⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢3 𝑓)(1 ,2) = ∙ (1,2) + ∙ (1,2)
√5 𝜕𝑥 √5 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
Solve the first two equations for the unknown partial derivatives (1,2) and (1,2) . We obtain that (1,2) = 1 and
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑓 −7
(1,2) = 3 . Plug them into the 3rd equation, we have (𝐷⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑢3 𝑓)(1 ,2) = .
𝜕𝑦 √5

Practice Exercises 10 (edited by Dr. Hon-Ming HO)-page 5