## Vector calc, gradient vector fields

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Is F = (2ye^x)i + x(sin2y)j + 18k a gradient vector field?

3. The attempt at a solution

Yeah I just don't know...I started to find some partial derivatives but I really don't know what to do here. Please help!
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 Blog Entries: 27 Recognitions: Gold Member Homework Help Science Advisor hi calculusisrad! (try using the X2 button just above the Reply box ) learn: div(curl) = 0, curl(grad) = 0 does that help?
 Recognitions: Gold Member Science Advisor Staff Emeritus For any g(x,y), $\nabla g= \partial g/\partial x\vec{i}+ \partial g/\partial y\vec{j}+ \partial g/\partial z\vec{k}$. So is there a function g such that $$\frac{\partial g}{\partial x}= 2ye^x$$ $$\frac{\partial g}{\partial z}= 18$$ and $$\frac{\partial g}{\partial y}= x sin(2y)$$? One way to answer that is to try to find g by finding anti-derivatives. Another is to use the fact that as long as the derivatives are continuous (which is the case here), the mixed second derivatives are equal: $$\frac{\partial}{\partial x}\left(\frac{\partial g}{\partial y}\right)= \frac{\partial}{\partial y}\left(\frac{\partial g}{\partial x}\right)$$ Is $$\frac{\partial x sin(2y)}{\partial x}= \frac{\partial 2ye^x}{\partial y}$$? etc.

## Vector calc, gradient vector fields

Thank you soo much :)
I am still confused, though. So if I can prove that dg/dxy = dg/dyx and dg/dxz = dg/dzx and dg/dyz = dg/dzy , I will have proved that F is a gradient vector field, correct???

I found that dg/dxy = sin2y, and d/dyx = 2e^x. Since they are not equal, that means that F is not a gradient vector field?

Thanks

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