Solution to Calculus Question 7: Scalar and

Vector Point Functions and Directional

Abstract—This paper provides detailed solutions produces a single value, while a vector function
to Question 7 from the Calculus module (Code produces a vector with magnitude and direction.
24MT102), addressing the differences between scalar
and vector point functions, the irrotational prop- B. Part (b): Irrotational Property of the Gradi-
erty of the gradient of a scalar function, and the ent
computation of a directional derivative for a given
temperature function. The solutions are presented The gradient of a scalar function f (x, y, z),
with mathematical rigor and clarity, adhering to the denoted ∇f = ∂x , ∂y , ∂z , is a vector field. A
∂f ∂f ∂f
IEEE conference format.
Index Terms—Calculus, Scalar Point Function, vector field F⃗ is irrotational if its curl is zero,
Vector Point Function, Gradient, Irrotational, Di- i.e., ∇ × F⃗ = ⃗0. Compute the curl of ∇f :
rectional Derivative
î ĵ k̂
∂ ∂ ∂
I. Introduction ∇ × (∇f ) = ∂x ∂y ∂z (1)
∂f ∂f ∂f
This document addresses Question 7 from ∂x ∂y ∂z
the Calculus module, covering scalar and vector The components are:   
point functions, the irrotational property of ∂2f
∂z − −
∂ ∂f ∂ ∂f
• î-component: ∂y ∂z ∂y = ∂y∂z
gradients, and the computation of a directional
∂2f
derivative for a temperature function. Each part ∂z∂y = 0, since mixed partial derivatives
is solved systematically with detailed mathemat- are equal for smooth
 functions.
 
ical derivations. • ĵ-component: ∂z ∂f
∂
− ∂ ∂f
= 0.
∂x  ∂x  ∂z 
II. Solutions • k̂-component: ∂x ∂y − ∂y ∂x = 0.
∂ ∂f ∂ ∂f

A. Part (a): Difference Between Scalar and Thus, ∇ × (∇f ) = ⃗0, confirming that the
Vector Point Functions gradient of any smooth scalar function is irro-
tational.
A scalar point function assigns a single nu-
merical value to each point in a domain. For C. Part (c): Directional Derivative of Tempera-
example, f (x, y, z) = x2 + y 2 + z 2 yields a scalar ture Function
at each point (x, y, z). Conversely, a vector point Given the temperature function T (x, y, z) =
200e−x −3y −9z , we compute the directional
2 2 2
function assigns a vector to each point. For
instance, F⃗ (x, y, z) = xî + y ĵ + z k̂ assigns a derivative at (2, −1, 1) toward (3, −3, 3). The
vector with components (x, y, z). The primary directional derivative is ∇T · û, where û is the
distinction lies in the output: a scalar function unit vector in the direction.
 The direction vector is:

⃗v = (3 − 2, −3 − (−1), 3 − 1) = (1, −2, 2). (2)

p √
|⃗v | = 12 + (−2)2 + 22 = 9 = 3. (3)
The unit vector is:
 
1 2 2
û = ,− , . (4)
3 3 3
The gradient of T is:
 
∇T = −400xe−x −3y −9z , −1200ye−x −3y −9z , −3600ze−x −3y −9z .
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

(5)
At (2, −1, 1), where −x2 − 3y 2 − 9z 2 = −16:

∇T (2, −1, 1) = −800e−16 , 1200e−16 , −3600e−16 .
(6)
The directional derivative is:
      
1−16 −16 2 −16 2 10400 −16
∇T ·û = −800e · + 1200e · − + −3600e · =− e .
3 3 3 3
(7)
Numerically, e−16 ≈ 1.125 × 10−7 , so:
10400 −16
− e ≈ −0.00039 ◦ C m−1 . (8)
3
III. Conclusion
The solutions demonstrate that scalar point
functions yield single values while vector point
functions yield vectors, the gradient of a scalar
function is always irrotational due to the equal-
ity of mixed partial derivatives, and the di-
rectional derivative of the given temperature
function is approximately −0.00039 ◦ C m−1 .
References
[1] J. Stewart, Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 8th ed.
Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2015.