Thread: Help with the gradient operator

If i need to describe how the direction of grad(f) (for a specific f) varies in space by considering grad(f) on surfaces given by f(x,y,z)=constant, how do I do this? What is the question asking? What relevence does grad(f) on a surface f(x,y,z)=constant have?

Any hints or tips appreciated

Thanks

Originally Posted by darren86

If i need to describe how the direction of grad(f) (for a specific f) varies in space by considering grad(f) on surfaces given by f(x,y,z)=constant, how do I do this? What is the question asking? What relevence does grad(f) on a surface f(x,y,z)=constant have?

is the normal of the tangent plane to the surface at the point .

Originally Posted by Plato

is the normal of the tangent plane to the surface at the point .

Thanks for your reply. If f(x,y,z) = x^2+y^2 for instance what can be said about how the direction of grad(f) varies in space (by considering surfaces where f=constant)?

I don't think it is sufficient to just say that for points on any surface f=constant, gradf will be normal to the surface. What else can be said?

Originally Posted by darren86

I don't think it is sufficient to just say that for points on any surface f=constant, gradf will be normal to the surface. What else can be said?

I don't really understand what you are attempting to do.

We can also say that points in the direction of maximum increase in the field and is the rate of maximum increase.