Calculus (3rd Edition)

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1464125260
ISBN 13: 978-1-46412-526-3

Chapter 17 - Line and Surface Integrals - Chapter Review Exercises - Page 971: 22

Answer

The vector field is not conservative.

Work Step by Step

We have ${\bf{F}} = \left( {{F_1},{F_2},{F_3}} \right) = \left( {xyz,\frac{1}{2}{x^2}z,2{z^2}y} \right)$. We check if ${\bf{F}}$ satisfies the cross-partials condition: $\frac{{\partial {F_1}}}{{\partial y}} = \frac{{\partial {F_2}}}{{\partial x}}$, ${\ \ \ \ }$ $\frac{{\partial {F_2}}}{{\partial z}} = \frac{{\partial {F_3}}}{{\partial y}}$, ${\ \ \ \ }$ $\frac{{\partial {F_3}}}{{\partial x}} = \frac{{\partial {F_1}}}{{\partial z}}$ We get $xz = xz$, ${\ \ \ \ }$ $\frac{1}{2}{x^2} = 2{z^2}$, ${\ \ \ \ }$ $0 = xy$ Since ${\bf{F}}$ does not satisfy the cross-partials condition, therefore by Theorem 4 in Section 17.3, ${\bf{F}}$ is not conservative.
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