Calculus: Early Transcendentals (2nd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321947347
ISBN 13: 978-0-32194-734-5

Chapter 14 - Vector Calculus - 14.3 Conservative Vector Fields - 14.3 Exercises - Page 1085: 18

Answer

$\phi(x,y)=\dfrac{1}{2}\ln (x^2+y^2)$

Work Step by Step

For a vector field to be Conservative, $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}=\dfrac{\partial g}{\partial x}$ We have: $f(x,y)=\dfrac{x}{x^2+y^2}$ and $g(x,y)=\dfrac{y}{x^2+y^2}$ Thus, $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}=\dfrac{2xy}{(x^2+y^2)^2}$ and $\dfrac{\partial g}{\partial x}=\dfrac{2xy}{(x^2+y^2)^2}$ Therefore, a vector field $F$ is Conservative. Now, potential function $F=\nabla \phi$ So, $\dfrac{\partial \phi}{\partial x}=\dfrac{x}{x^2+y^2} $ and $\phi(x,y)=\dfrac{1}{2}\ln (x^2+y^2) +h(y)$ and $\dfrac{\partial \phi}{\partial y}=\dfrac{y}{x^2+y^2}+h^{\prime}(y)$ and $h(y)=C(y)$ Thus, $\phi(x,y)=\dfrac{1}{2}\ln (x^2+y^2)$
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