Directional Derivative and Gradient
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Mathematics/Calculus
Directional DerivativeDefinition 1. The derivative of $f$ at $P_0 (x_0, y_0)$ in the direction of the unit vector $\mathbb{u} = u_1 \mathbb{i} + u_2 \mathbb{j}$ is the number $$\left( \frac{df}{ds} \right)_{\mathbb{u}, P_0} = \lim_{s \to 0} \frac{f(x_0 + su_1, y_0 + su_2) - f(x_0, y_0)}{s},$$ provided the limit exists. It is also denoted by $$D_{\mathbb{u}}f(P_0) \text{ or } D_{\mathbb{u}}f \b..