- #1
FirstYearGrad
- 51
- 0
I've stumbled across something I've never seen before. I am taking a class outside of my major and the notation seems to be quite different from what I am used to, and I am completely baffled as to how to solve what I feel are some simple problems.
Find [tex]\frac{d f(\vec{k})}{\vec{k}}[/tex] where [tex]f(\vec{k}) = sin(ak_x)-cos(bk_y)+cos(ck_z)[/tex]. f itself is a scalar function that operates on the components of the vector [tex]\vec{k}[/tex].
What does this notation mean? I have never seen a notation in which there is a derivative with respect to a vector. Is this the same thing as the gradient [tex]\nabla f[/tex]?
Homework Statement
Find [tex]\frac{d f(\vec{k})}{\vec{k}}[/tex] where [tex]f(\vec{k}) = sin(ak_x)-cos(bk_y)+cos(ck_z)[/tex]. f itself is a scalar function that operates on the components of the vector [tex]\vec{k}[/tex].
The Attempt at a Solution
What does this notation mean? I have never seen a notation in which there is a derivative with respect to a vector. Is this the same thing as the gradient [tex]\nabla f[/tex]?