Differentiation of Vectors

If a vector R varies continuously as a scalar variable t changes, then R is said to be a function of t and is written as R = F(t).
Just as in scalar calculus, we define derivative of a vector function R = F(t) as
                        


                                        
  and write it as dR/dt or dF/dt or F'(t).
                     
General rules of differentiation are similar to those of ordinary calculus provided the order of factors in vector products is maintained.  Thus, if Ф, F, G, H are scalar and vector functions of a scalar variable t, we have

1. 
   
   
2. 
   
   Example:  If A= 5t²I + tJ – t³K, B=sintI - cos(t)J then
   Find i) d/dt(A.B)
         ii) d/dt(AxB)
   Solution: i) d/dt(A.B) = A.(dB/dt) + (dA/dt).B
                 = (5t²I+tJ-t³K)[costI –(-sint)J] + (10tI+J-3t²K)(sintI - costJ)
                 = (5t²cost-tsint) + (10tsint-cost)
                 = 5t² cos(t) + 11tsin(t) – cos(t).
        ii) d/dt(AXB) = Ax(dB/dt) + (dA/dt)xB
                  = (5t²I+tJ-t³K)x(costI +sintJ) + (10tI+J-3t²K)x(sintI -costJ)
                 = (t³sint-3t²cost)I – t²(tcost+3sint)J + [(5t²-1)sint-11tcost]K

Derivative of Polar Functions

Let r = r(θ) represent a polar curve, then
                 dy = dy/dθ = r'sinθ + rcosθ

                     __     ______     ______   _____
                 dx    dx/dθ    r'cosθ – rsinθ
Since x=rcosθ
        dx/dθ = r(-sinθ) + cosθ. r' = r'cosθ – rsinθ
         y = rsinθ
        dy/dθ = rcosθ + sinθ. r' = r'sinθ + rcosθ
dy = dy/dθ = r'sinθ + rcosθ

___    ______   ______   ______
dx    dx/dθ    r'cosθ – rsinθ
Example: Find the derivative of r = θcosθ
Example: dy/dx = [θ(-sinθ) + cosθ] sinθ + θ cosθ (cosθ)
                        ________________________________                 

                        [θ(-sinθ) + cosθ] cosθ – θ cosθ sinθ
             
                =   -θsin2θ + cosθ sinθ + θcos2θ
                    _________________________                   

                    -θsinθ cosθ + cos2θ – θcosθ sinθ
              
                = cosθ sinθ + θ(cos2θ – sin2θ)
                  _________________________                 

                      cos2θ - 2θ cosθ sinθ
              
                 =   cosθ sinθ+ θcos2θ           
                     _______________

                     cos2θ - 2θ cosθ sinθ

Example: Find the slope of the tangent line to the unit circle x= cost, y = sint (0≤t≤2π) at the point t = π/6
Solution: The slope at a general point on the circle is dy/dx

Thus, the slope at t = π/6 is
              dy/dx]_t=π/6    = -cot π/6 = -√3
Example: Find the slope of the tangent line to the circle r = 4cosθ at the point where θ = π/4
Solution:
Thus, at the point where θ = π/4 the slope of the tangent line is dy/dx]θ=π/4 = -cotπ/2 = 0 which implies that the circle has a horizontal tangent line at the point where θ = π/4

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Reference links:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_curve
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slope