Processing math: 100%

EXAMPLE 1Identifying a Conservative Vector Field and Its Potential Function

F(x,y)=2xyi+x2j is a conservative vector field, since F is the gradient of the function f(x,y)=x2y. That is,  f(x,y)=fx(x,y)i+fy(x,y)j=2xyi+x2j=F(x,y)

The function f(x,y)=x2y is the potential function for F.