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: 19

Answer

$\phi(x,y)=\sqrt {x^2+y^2}$

Work Step by Step

For a vector field to be Conservative, $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}=\dfrac{\partial g}{\partial x}$ We have: $f(x,y)=\dfrac{x}{\sqrt {x^2+y^2}}$ and $g(x,y)=\dfrac{y}{\sqrt {x^2+y^2}}$ Thus, $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}=\dfrac{-xy}{(x^2+y^2)^{3/2}}$ and $\dfrac{\partial g}{\partial x}=\dfrac{-xy}{(x^2+y^2)^{3/2}}$ 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)^{1/2}} $ and $\phi(x,y)=\sqrt{x^2+y^2}+h(y)$ and $\dfrac{\partial \phi}{\partial y}=\dfrac{y}{(x^2+y^2)^{1/2}}+h^{\prime}(y)$ and $h^{\prime \prime}(y)=0$ Thus, $\phi(x,y)=\sqrt {x^2+y^2}$
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