What is the direction of vector [[dx],[dy]]

Brenda Jordan

Brenda Jordan

Answered question

2022-11-06

Recently I came across a topic " total differential" which comes with a result
d f = f x d x + f y d y
As much I learned in multivariable calculus this can be simplified as f [ d x d y ] which graphically means taking directional Derivative in diraction of [ d x d y ] But is it Makes any sense ?

Answer & Explanation

Kayleigh Cross

Kayleigh Cross

Beginner2022-11-07Added 19 answers

Observe that the derivative of a function f = f ( x , y ) is its gradient g r a d f = [ f x f y ] .
But if f ( x , y ) = x (the projection in the x-axis) then its gradient is [ x x x y ] = [ 1 0 ]
and
similarly for f ( x , y ) = y (the projection in the y-axis), its gradient is [ y x y y ] = [ 0 1 ]
Hence the relation d f = f x d x + f y d y is the relation
[ f x f y ] = f x [ 1 0 ] + f y [ 0 1 ] ,
where anyone clearly sees that d x = [ 1 0 ] and d y = [ 0 1 ] are the matrix forms of the derivatives of the projections onto both axis, that is, their gradients, respectively.

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