# Math Help - Find the directional derivative??? help

1. ## Find the directional derivative??? help

Find the directional derivative of f at the given point in the direction
indicated by the angle theta.

a) f(x, y) = (x^2 − y)^3, (3, 1), theta = 3pi/4.

b) f(x, y) = sin(x + 2y), (4,−2), theta = −2pi/3.

2. Originally Posted by waterboy1203
Find the directional derivative of f at the given point in the direction
indicated by the angle theta.

a) f(x, y) = (x^2 − y)^3, (3, 1), theta = 3pi/4.

b) f(x, y) = sin(x + 2y), (4,−2), theta = −2pi/3.
$\frac{\partial f}{\partial l} = \nabla f \cdot \hat{l}$ where $\hat{l}$ is a unit vector in the required direction.

What part of this definition are you having trouble with.

3. Originally Posted by waterboy1203
Find the directional derivative of f at the given point in the direction
indicated by the angle theta.

a) f(x, y) = (x^2 − y)^3, (3, 1), theta = 3pi/4.

b) f(x, y) = sin(x + 2y), (4,−2), theta = −2pi/3.
recall, the directional derivative of a function $f$ at the point $(x,y)$ in the direction of a unit vector $\bold{u} = \left< a,b \right>$ is given by

$D_u(x,y) = \nabla f \cdot \bold{u} = f_x(x,y)a + f_y(x,y)b$

now, our problem here is finding the unit vector. if you are completely lost, just draw a diagram with the unit circle to figure out the vector that points in the direction you want. recall, therefore, that unit vectors in the direction $\theta$ are given by $\left< \cos \theta , \sin \theta \right>$