Exercise · ZW-DIVERGENCE-001 · ★☆☆ Basic

Compute \(\operatorname{div}\mathbf F\) for \(\mathbf F=\langle x^2,\,y^2,\,z^2\rangle\).

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • A. \(2x+2y+2z\)

Explanation

Differentiate each component with respect to its own variable and add: \(2x+2y+2z\). The result is a scalar, not a vector.

Study Multivariable calculus in ZWMath →

Review the concept: Divergence

The divergence of a vector field \(\mathbf F=\langle P,Q,R\rangle\) is the scalar field that measures, at each point, how much the flow of the field expands or compresses.

\[\operatorname{div}\mathbf F=\nabla\cdot\mathbf F=\frac{\partial P}{\partial x}+\frac{\partial Q}{\partial y}+\frac{\partial R}{\partial z}\]

More practice problems: divergence

ZW-DIVERGENCE-002 →