1. Mar 29, 2012

### 4570562

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
The evaluated partial derivative of f(x,y) with respect to x is -16 and 6 with respect to y at some point (x0,y0). What is the vector specifying the direction of maximum increase of f?

2. Relevant equations
The direction of maximum increase of f is given by $\nabla$f(x,y). The maximum value of D$_{u}$f(x,y) is ||grad f(x,y)||.

3. The attempt at a solution
I know the answer is -16i + 6j. But I just don't know why. I understand the geometric argument based on the dot product given in my textbook for why the gradient gives the direction of maximum increase. That's fine. But is there a more intuitive way to look at it in terms of partial derivatives so that the result can be easily extended to higher dimensions?

The main part that's confusing me is that the rate of change of f wrt x is negative (-16) and yet we want to move partly in the x direction. It seems like we would only want to move in the y direction since the rate of change of f wrt y is positive.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Last edited: Mar 29, 2012
2. Mar 29, 2012

### Dick

If the gradient is -16i+6j and you move in the NEGATIVE x direction then the function is increasing. A negative times a negative is positive.

3. Mar 29, 2012

### 4570562

Thank you very much. I knew it was something easy like that.

I didn't see it because I kept going back to the limit definition of the derivative where it doesn't matter if you are interpreting the slope formula from the positive or negative direction.

It seems that direction doesn't matter until the calculation is done and then it becomes extremely important. Thus

dy/dx = 5 when x=2

is interpreted to mean that the rate of change of y as x varies in the positive direction from 2 is 5.

4. Mar 29, 2012

### Dick

Exactly. And if you are moving in the negative direction, it's -5. The gradient part and the direction part are separate.

Last edited: Mar 29, 2012