Student[VectorCalculus][Gradient] - compute the gradient of a function
Student[VectorCalculus][Del] - Vector differential operator
Student[VectorCalculus][Nabla] - Vector differential operator
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Calling Sequence
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Gradient(f,c)
Del(f,c)
Nabla(f,c)
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Parameters
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f
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(optional) algebraic expression
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c
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(optional) specify the coordinate system
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Description
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The Gradient(f) calling sequence computes the gradient of the expression f in the current coordinate system. If no coordinate system has been explicitly specified, the command will assume a cartesian system with coordinates the variables which appear in the expression f.
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The Gradient(f,c) calling sequence computes the gradient of the expression f in the coordinate system specified by the parameter c, which can be given as:
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* an indexed name, e.g.,
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* a name, e.g., spherical; default coordinate names will be used
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* a list of names, e.g., ; the current coordinate system will be used, with these as the coordinate names
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The Gradient(c) calling sequence returns the differential form of the gradient operator in the coordinate system specified by the parameter c.
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The Gradient() calling sequence returns the differential form of the gradient operator in the current coordinate system. If no coordinate system has been set (by a call to SetCoordinates), cartesian coordinates are assumed.
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In all cases, the result is a vector field.
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Nabla and Del are both synonyms for Gradient.
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Command
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Equivalent Command using Del
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Equivalent Command Using Nabla
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Curl
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Del &x
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Nabla &x
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Divergence
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Del .
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Nabla .
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Laplacian
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Del . Del
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Nabla . Nabla
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Examples
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The Gradient, Del, and Nabla commands compute the gradient.
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To display the differential form of the gradient operator, use the Gradient() or Gradient(c) calling sequence.
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You can compute the divergence, curl, and gradient using the corresponding commands, or the Del or Nabla command and the . or &x operator.
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See Also
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attributes, plots[gradplot3d], plots[gradplot], Student[MultivariateCalculus][Gradient], Student[VectorCalculus], Student[VectorCalculus][CrossProduct], Student[VectorCalculus][Curl], Student[VectorCalculus][Divergence], Student[VectorCalculus][DotProduct], Student[VectorCalculus][Laplacian], Student[VectorCalculus][SetCoordinates], Student[VectorCalculus][Vector], Student[VectorCalculus][VectorField], VectorCalculus[Gradient]
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