Discussion 17 Worksheet Answers

Some past exam problems

Date: 11/8/2021

MATH 53 Multivariable Calculus

1 Computing Curl and Divergence

For each of the following vector fields F~ , compute its curl and divergence. State whether each
vector field is irrotational, incompressible, or neither.

1. F~ = x~i + y~j + z~k

Solution: We have
∂ ∂ ∂
∇ · F~ = x+ y+ z =1+1+1=3
∂x ∂y ∂z
and      
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
∇ × F~ = z− ~
y i+ x− ~
z j+ y− x ~k = ~0.
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y
Because ∇ × F~ = ~0, we see that F~ is irrotational.

2. F~ = hy 2 , z 3 , x4 i
Solution: We have
∂ 2 ∂ 3 ∂ 3
∇ · F~ = y + z + x =0+0+0=0
∂x ∂y ∂z
and
     
∂ 4 ∂ 3 ~ ∂ 2 ∂ 4 ~ ∂ 3 ∂ 2 ~
∇ × F~ = x − z i+ y − x j+ z − y k
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y
= −3z 2~i − 4x3~j − 2y~k.

Because ∇ · F~ = 0, we see that F~ is incompressible.

3. F~ = hy 2 x, ez , z 2 i

1
 Solution: We have
∂ 2 ∂ z ∂ 2
∇ · F~ = y x+ e + z = y 2 + 2z
∂x ∂y ∂z
and
     
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
∇ × F~ = 2
z − e ~i +
z 2
y x− z ~j +
2 z
e − y x ~k
2
∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y
= −ez~i − 2yx~k.

This vector field is neither irrotational nor incompressible (as ∇ · F~ and ∇ × F~ are both
nonzero).

4. F~ = ∇f , where f (x, y, z) = 2xyeyz

Solution: We have
∂2f ∂2f ∂2f
∇· F~ = + + = 0+(4xzeyz +2xyz 2 eyz )+2xy 3 eyz = (4xz +2xyz 2 +2xy 3 )eyz
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
and
∂2f ∂2f ~
 2
∂2f ~
 2
∂2f ~ ~
   
∂ f ∂ f
∇ × F~ = − i+ − j+ − k=0
∂y∂z ∂z∂y ∂z∂x ∂x∂y ∂x∂y ∂y∂x

by Clairaut’s theorem.

2 Divergence and Curl Identities

Let F~ = hP, Q, Ri and G
~ = hP 0 , Q0 , R0 i be vector fields on R3 , and let f : R3 → R and g : R3 → R
be functions on R3 . Assume all of these are infinitely differentiable. Prove each of the following
vector identities.

1. ∇ · (F~ + G)
~ = ∇ · F~ + ∇ · G
~

Solution:
~ = (P + P 0 )x + (Q + Q0 )y + (R + R0 )z
∇ · (F~ + G)
= Px + Qy + Rz + Px0 + Q0y + Rz0
= ∇ · F~ + ∇ · G.
~

2. ∇ × (F~ + G)
~ = ∇ × F~ + ∇ × G
~

2
 Solution: It’s easiest to verify this component-by component. For the ~i component,
we have
~ · ~i = (R + R0 )y − (Q + Q0 )z
(∇ × (F~ + G))
= (Ry − Qz ) + (Ry0 − Q0z )
= (∇ × F~ ) · ~i + (∇ × G)
~ · ~i
= (∇ × F~ + ∇ × G)
~ · ~i.

Similarly we see that the desired equation holds when we look at the ~j and ~k compo-
nents, proving the result.

3. ∇ · (f F~ ) = f (∇ · F~ ) + F~ · (∇f )
Solution:

∇ · (f F~ ) = (f P )x + (f Q)y + (f R)z
= (fx P + f Px ) + (fy Q + f Qy ) + (fz R + f Rz )
= (f Px + f Qy + f Rz ) + (fx P + fy Q + fz R)
= f (∇ · F~ ) + F~ · (∇f ).

4. ∇ × (f F~ ) = f (∇ × F~ ) + (∇f ) × F~

Solution: It’s easiest to verify this component-by component. For the ~i component,
we have

(∇ × (f F~ )) · ~i = (f R)y − (f Q)z
= fy R + f Ry − fz Q − f Qz
= f (Ry − Qz ) + (fy R − fz Q)
= f (∇ × F~ ) · ~i + ((∇f ) × F~ ) · ~i
= (f (∇ × F~ ) + (∇f ) × F~ ) · ~i.

A similar computation shows that the identity holds for the ~j and ~k components, proving
the the identity.

5. ∇ · (F~ × G)
~ =G
~ · (∇ × F~ ) − F~ · (∇ × G)
~

Solution:
~ = (QR0 − RQ0 )x + (RP 0 − P R0 )y + (P Q0 − QP 0 )z
∇ · (F~ × G)
= Qx R0 + QRx0 − Rx Q0 − RQ0x + Ry P 0 + RPy0 − Py R0 − P Ry0 + Pz Q0 + P Q0z − Qz P 0 − QPz0
= P 0 (Ry − Qz ) + Q0 (Pz − Rx ) + R0 (Qx − Py ) − P (Ry0 − Q0z ) − Q(Pz0 − Rx0 ) − R(Q0x − Py0 )
=G~ · (∇ × F~ ) − F~ · (∇ × G).
~

6. ∇ · (∇f × ∇g) = 0

3
 Solution: This follows from the previous identity (taking F~ = ∇f and G
~ = ∇g) and
the fact that ∇ × (∇f ) = ∇ × (∇g) = 0.

7. ∇ × (∇ × F~ )) = ∇(∇ · F~ ) − ∇2 F~
Solution: We again work component-by-component. Note

∇ × F~ = (Ry − Qz )~i + (Pz − Rx )~j + (Qx − Py )~k,

so

∇ × (∇ × F~ ) · ~i = (Qx − Py )y − (Pz − Rx )z

= Qxy − Pyy − Pzz + Rxz

= (Pxx + Qxy + Rxz ) − (Pxx + Pyy + Pzz )
= (Px + Qy + Rz )x − (Pxx + Pyy + Pzz )
= (∇(∇ · F~ )) · ~i − (∇2 F~ ) · ~i
= ∇(∇ · F~ ) − ∇2 F~ · ~i.

Similar arguments show the identity also holds in the ~j and ~k components, proving the
identity.

3 Challenge
~ and B
Suppose you are given a pair of (infinitely differentiable) vector fields E ~ in R3 in R3 , and
consider each vector field as additionally varying with respect to a variable t (in addition to the
variables x, y, and z for R3 ). Suppose furthermore that these vector fields satisfy the “Maxwell
equations in vacuum:”

~
∂B
~ =0
∇·E ~ =−
∇×E
∂t
~
~ =0
∇·B ~ = 1 ∂E
∇×B
c2 ∂t
for some constant c2 > 0. Prove that these vector fields satisfy the “wave equations”

1 ∂2E~ 1 ∂2B~
~ =
∇2 E ~ =
∇2 B .
c2 ∂t2 c2 ∂t2
~ is the vector Laplacian
Here ∇2 E

~
∂2E ~
∂2E ~
∂2E
~ =
∇2 E + + ,
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

and ∇2 B~ is defined similarly (with E

~ replaced by B).
~
By completing this exercise, you are showing that the fundamental laws of electrodynamics
suggest the possibility of electromagnetic waves, i.e. light. Fiat lux!

4
 Solution: Problem 7 from Section 2 above shows that
~ = ∇(∇ · E)
∇2 E ~ − ∇ × (∇ × E).
~

~ and ∇ × E
Substituting in the equations for ∇ · E ~ here gives
!
∂ ~
B ~
∂B
~ =0−∇× −
∇2 E =∇× .
∂t ∂t

By Clairaut’s theorem, we can replace this with

~ = ∂  
~ .
∇2 E ∇×B
∂t
~ gives
Substituting in the equation for ∇ × B
!
~ 1 ∂2E~
~ = ∂
∇2 E
1 ∂E
= .
∂t 2
c ∂t 2
c ∂t2

~ is similar.
The proof of the wave equation for B

4 True/False
Supply convincing reasoning for your answer. Assume all functions are infinitely differentiable
unless stated otherwise.

(a) T F For every vector field F~ on R3 , we have ∇ · (∇ × F~ ) = 0.

Solution: TRUE. This follows by a direct computation in the same vein as those in
Section 2 above.
(b) T F The divergence of a vector field is a scalar function, while the curl of a vector field is a vector
field.
Solution: TRUE. This is immediate from the definitions.

(c) T F Every vector field F~ on R3 arises as the curl of some vector field G.
~

Solution: FALSE. Because ∇ · (∇ × G) ~ = 0 for all G,

~ we see that we must have
∇ · F~ = 0, which does not hold for all F~ .

(d) T F Every function f : R3 → R arises as the divergence of some vector field F~ .

Solution: TRUE. For example, if we define
Z x
g(x, y, z) = f (t, y, z) dt,
0

then f is the divergence of the vector field F~ = hg, 0, 0i (by the fundamental theorem
of calculus).

Note: These problems are taken from the worksheets for Math 53 in the Spring of 2021 with Prof. Stankova.