# A question about writing the notation of the nabla operator

• I
Gold Member

## Main Question or Discussion Point

I have a simple question about the notation of the nabla operator in Vector Analysis. The nabla operator is a vector differential operator and it is written as:

$$\nabla = \hat{x} \frac {∂} {∂x} + \hat{y} \frac {∂} {∂y} + \hat{z} \frac {∂} {∂z}$$

Is it okay if we accented nabla by a right arrow such that

$$\vec{\nabla} = \hat{x} \frac {∂} {∂x} + \hat{y} \frac {∂} {∂y} + \hat{z} \frac {∂} {∂z}$$

Excuse me for this silly question, but I want to know the correct notation for nabla, since I am encountering both notations on the internet. Thank you so much in advance...

DrClaude
Mentor
It depends on how you note vectors. Common notations include the overhead arrow, as you wrote, but using boldface is also quite common.

The nabla operator is a vector operator, so use whatever notation you are using for vector quantities.

Gold Member
Thank you DrClaude for your continuous help...