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: 26

Answer

$\phi(x,y,z)=\dfrac{x^4}{4}+y^2-\dfrac{z^4}{4}$

Work Step by Step

For a vector field to be Conservative, $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}=\dfrac{\partial g}{\partial x}$ and $\dfrac{\partial g}{\partial z}=\dfrac{\partial h}{\partial y}$ and $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial z}=\dfrac{\partial h}{\partial x}$ We have: $f(x,y,z)=x^3, g(x,y,z) =2y$ and $h(x,y,z)=-z^3$ Thus, $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}=0=\dfrac{\partial g}{\partial x}$ and $\dfrac{\partial g}{\partial z}=0=\dfrac{\partial h}{\partial y}$ and $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial z}=0=\dfrac{\partial h}{\partial x}$ Therefore, a vector field $F$ is Conservative. Now, potential function $F=\nabla \phi$ So, $\dfrac{\partial \phi}{\partial x}=x^3 \implies \phi(x,y,z)=\dfrac{x^4}{4}+a(y,z)$ and $\dfrac{\partial \phi}{\partial y}=2y=\dfrac{\partial a}{\partial y} \implies a(y,z)=y^2+b(z)$ and $\dfrac{\partial \phi}{\partial z}=-z^3 =b'(z) \implies b(z)=\dfrac{-z^4}{4}$ Thus, $\phi(x,y,z)=\dfrac{x^4}{4}+y^2-\dfrac{z^4}{4}$
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