Exercise · ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-004 · ★★☆ Intermediate
Compute the derivative of \(f(x,y)=e^{xy}\) at \((0,1)\) in the direction of the vector \(\mathbf{v}=\langle3,4\rangle\).
Choose one option.
Show answer
- B. \(\tfrac35\)
Explanation
\(\nabla f(0,1)=\langle ye^{xy},xe^{xy}\rangle=\langle1,0\rangle\). The vector must be normalized: \(\mathbf{u}=\mathbf{v}/5=\langle\tfrac35,\tfrac45\rangle\), giving \(\tfrac35\). Using \(\mathbf{v}\) unnormalized would give \(3\).
Review the concept: Directional derivative
The directional derivative \(D_{\mathbf{u}}f\) of \(f\) at a point \(\mathbf{x}_0\), along a unit vector \(\mathbf{u}\), is the rate of change of \(f\) moving from \(\mathbf{x}_0\) in the direction of \(\mathbf{u}\).
\[D_{\mathbf{u}}f(\mathbf{x}_0)=\lim_{h\to0}\frac{f(\mathbf{x}_0+h\mathbf{u})-f(\mathbf{x}_0)}{h}\]
More practice problems: directional derivative
- ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-001 Compute D_uf(1,2) for f(x,y)=x^2y and u=langletfrac35,tfrac45rangle.
- ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-002 Compute D_uf(2,3) for f(x,y)=xy and u=i=langle1,0rangle.
- ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-003 Compute D_uf(1,1) for f(x,y)=x^2+y^2 and u=langletfrac1√2,tfrac1√2rangle.
- ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-005 A point at (1,1) moves toward (4,5). Compute the rate of change of f(x,y)=x^2y+y in that direction.
- ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-006 What is the maximum rate of change of f(x,y)=x^2+3y^2 at (1,1)?
- ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-007 For f(x,y)=x^2+y^2 at (1,2), in which unit direction u is the directional derivative 0?
- ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-008 Compute D_uf(1,2,3) for f(x,y,z)=xyz and u=langletfrac23,tfrac13,tfrac23rangle.
- ZW-DIRECTIONAL-DERIVATIVE-009 If |∇ f(p)|=5 and for a unit vector u we have D_uf(p)=5, what follows about u?
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