Lecture Notes

Gradient Vector Field

Manoj Pandey
Department of Mathematics
Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya,(M.P)

January, 2023
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Contents

1 Gradient Vector Field 5

1.1 Vector Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 Plotting a Vector Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Gradient Vector Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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4 CONTENTS
1 | Gradient Vector Field

We have been learning partial derivatives for many past weeks. Partial derivatives
are described as the rate of change of function along coordinate directions. One
may raise a question about rate of change in any arbitrary direction ~v from any
point. The answer would be directional derivative. So, the prime target of this
lecture is to introduce the concept of directional derivative (DD). Later on, you
will see that DD in any direction turns out to be the component of gradient vector
field in that direction. Therefore, we start with the vector field.

After this lecture, you will be able to:

1. compute directional derivative of a scalar field,
2. find direction of maximum or minimum change in a function,
3. write equation of tangent plane and normal to the level surface.

1.1 Vector Field

In multivariable calculus, we are very naturally prompted to consider functions
of the type F : Rn → Rn . These are known as vector fields. For example the
derivative of a scalar field f : R2 → R is given by
∂f ∂f
∇f (x, y) = (∂f /∂x, ∂f /∂y) = î + ĵ.
∂x ∂y
Thus ∇f is a function that acts on (x, y) ∈ R2 and produces a vector (∂f /∂x, ∂f /∂y)
in R2 . This is called as gradient vector field. A vector field is thought of a collection
of arrows (vector) attached to each of the points in some certain subset of space.

Definition 1.1.1. A vector field in Rn is a function F : D ⊆ Rn → Rn .

For n = 2, F is called a two dimensional vector field and are given by

F(x, y) = (P (x, y), Q(x, y)) = P (x, y)î + Q(x, y)ĵ.

and for n = 3, it is a three dimensional vector field given by

F(x, y, z) = (P (x, y), Q(x, y), R(x, y)) = P (x, y)î + Q(x, y)ĵ + R(x, y)k̂.

There are physical motivations too for consideration of vector fields. We know
that physical vector quantities such as velocity and force may change from point

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6 CHAPTER 1. GRADIENT VECTOR FIELD

to point. Therefore, they are often modelled by vector fields. The velocity field
represents speed and direction (at any point) of a moving fluid in space and force
fields (such as magnetic or gravitational) give strength and direction of the force
at any point in space.

Example 1. For example, the function F(x, y) = (x + y, 2xy) = (x + y)î + (2xy)ĵ is

a two-dimensional vector field. For a point such as (1, 3), it assigns a vector F(1, 3) =
(4, 6) = 4î + 6ĵ. For point (2, 3), it assigns a vector F(2, 3) = (5, 12) = 5î + 12ĵ.

Example 2. The function F(x, y, z) = (x, x − z, 2yz) = xî + (x − z)ĵ + 2yz k̂ is a

vector field in space R3 . For a point such as (4, 1, −3), it assigns a vector F(4, 1, −3) =
(4, 7, −6) = 4î + 7ĵ − 6k̂. Similarly, for other points, we may find associated vectors.

1.2 Plotting a Vector Field

Consider a 2-dimensional vector field F(x, y) = (P (x, y), Q(x, y)). To have a graph-
ical view of this vector field, one may try to plot all the functional values (vectors
(P, Q)) in plane. The vector (P, Q) will start at origin (such as blue vector in the
image given below). And, the vector field will look like a bundle of arrows ema-

nating from origin. But in doing so, we loose the very meaning of a vector field.
A vector field is something that associates an arrow to a point. In the above, we
displayed only the arrow (that starts at origin disregard of the associated point)
and the point which it was associated to was not even mentioned. Thus the input
points are not touched upon in this graphical display. To display the point-arrow
relationship as announced by the vector field, we need to mention both the input
point (x, y) and the output vector (P, Q) associated to it. This can be done, if
we drag the blue arrow (by means of the parallel translation) and put it over the
point (x, y) (such as red arrow in the picture). This simply means that we draw
an arrow that starts at (x, y) and terminates at (x + P, y + Q). Now, the input
points and output vectors both are displayed. We draw as many arrows as we can
in this way and get a graphical view of the vector fields.
 1.2. PLOTTING A VECTOR FIELD 7

Example 3. For example, the function F(x, y) = xî − y ĵ is a two-dimensional vector

field. Note that P (x, y) = x and Q(x, y) = −y. To plot this vector field, we calculate a
few functional values such as given below:

F (1, 1) = i − j = (1, −1),

F (0, 1) = −j = (0, −1),
F (1, −2) = i + 2j = (1, 2),
F (−2, 1) = −2i − j = (−2, −1).

Now, we plot the following four vectors with initial point (x, y) and terminal point
(x + P, y + Q)

Initial Point (1, 1) terminal point (1 + 1, 1 − 1) = (2, 0),

Initial Point (0, 1) terminal point (0 + 0, 1 − 1) = (0, 0),
Initial Point (1, −2) terminal point (1 + 1, −2 + 2) = (2, 0),
Initial Point (−2, 1) terminal point (−2 − 2, 1 − 1) = (−4, 0).

as shown in the following picture. However, this work can be done on any graphing

Figure 1.2.1: Vector Field F(x, y) = xî − y ĵ

software. A computer will draw more and more arrows giving better visualisation of
the vector field. Graphic visualisation of this vector field through GeoGebra is given
below:

Figure 1.2.2: Computer generated plot of vector field F(x, y) = xî − y ĵ

8 CHAPTER 1. GRADIENT VECTOR FIELD

Example 4. A computer generated graphic visualisation of the vector field F(x, y) =

y î − xĵ is given below.

Figure 1.2.3: Vector Field F(x, y) = y î − xĵ

1.3 Gradient Vector Field

Let us take a function z = f (x, y). The derivative of this function (if it exists) is
the matrix of the two partial derivatives given below.

f 0 (a, b) = Df (a, b) = [fx (a, b), fy (a, b)].

If we take it as a vector, it is called a gradient vector field. Thus, we define the

gradient vector field as below:

Definition 1.3.1. Gradient vector field of a scalar field z = f (x, y) is

∂f ∂f
∇f (x, y) = (fx (x, y), fy (x, y)) = (x, y)î + (x, y)ĵ.
∂x ∂y

Example 5. Plot the gradient vector field of the function z = x2 + y 2 . Also, draw a
level curve of the surface that passes through (1,0). Draw a tangent to this level curve at
that point (1,0) and also plot ∇f (1, 0) at that point. What relation can be seen between
gradient vector ∇f (1, 0) and the tangent vector to the level curve at that point.

Solution: The gradient vector field of the function z = x2 + y 2 at point (x, y) is given
by
∂f ∂f
∇f (x, y) = î + ĵ = 2xî + 2y ĵ.
∂x ∂y
 1.3. GRADIENT VECTOR FIELD 9

A gradient vector at point (1, 0) is given by

∇f (1, 0) = 2î + 0ĵ = 2î.

A plot of the gradient vector field ∇f (x, y) is given below:

Figure 1.3.1: ∇f (x, y) = 2xî + 2y ĵ

A level curve that passes through the point (1, 0) is x2 + y 2 = 1. A tangent vector
to this level curve at (1, 0) is
~v = (0, 1).

Figure 1.3.2: Without Field Figure 1.3.3: With Field