Math 53 Worksheets, 7th Edition 54

26. The Fundamental Theorem of Line Integrals

In this section we meet a generalized ! bversion of the fundamental theorem of calculus. Recall
from single-variable calculus that a f (x) dx = g(b) − g(a) where g is a function whose
n
derivative is f . Now
! suppose that C is a curve of R whose starting and ending points are
a and b. Then C F · dr = g(b) − g(a) where g is a function whose gradient is F. The
function g is called a potential function for F. A big difference between the single-variable
case and this one is that while f (x) always has an antiderivative, F(x1 , . . . , xn ) may not have
a potential function. If F does have a potential function, then F is said to be conservative.
We determine whether F is conservative by using the theorem on equality of mixed
∂g ∂g
partials as follows. Suppose F = ∇g for some g; that is, ⟨f1 , . . . , fn ⟩ = ⟨ ∂x 1
, . . . , ∂x n
⟩. Then
by equality of mixed partials,
∂fi ∂ ∂g ∂ ∂g ∂fj
F conservative ⇒ = = = . (9)
∂xj ∂xj ∂xi ∂xi ∂xj ∂xi
∂fi ∂fj
So if someone hands us a suspicious F(x1 , . . . , xn ) and we find that ̸= then we
∂xj ∂xi
∂ ∂
know it isn’t conservative. For example, if F(x, y) = yi + 2xj then ∂y f1 (x, y) = ∂y y = 1 but
∂ ∂
f (x, y) = ∂x 2x = 2, so F has no potential function.
∂x 2
There is a converse to Equation 9 but we need to be careful about the domain of F. On a
simply-connected domain, if F satisfies Equation 9 then F is conservative. Simply connected
regions are regions without holes, as illustrated in Figure 23.
Simply-connected Not simply-connected

Figure 23: A domain which is simply-connected and a domain which isn’t.

If g can exist under the criterion of Equation 9, then we can try to compute it explicitly.
∂g
Given the partial derivatives ∂x i
we find the “anti-partial-derivative” with respect to xi —
bearing in mind that since partial differentiation treats the other variables as constants, our
constant of integration could be a function of any of the other variables. Doing this for each
xi gives n formulations of g; setting these equal will eliminate the uncertainty about which
other variables occur in the various constants of integration.

Questions
1. Does the fundamental theorem of single-variable calculus follow from the fundamental
theorem for line integrals?
 55 Math 53 Worksheets, 7th Edition
2. Suppose F is the gradient of some function. What is the work done by F along a closed
curve (i.e., a curve that comes back to where it started)?

3. Suppose two different curves C and C ′ have the same starting point and ending point.

(a) If F is the gradient of some function, must

" "
F · dr = F · dr?
C C′

(b) If " "

F · dr = F · dr,
C C′
must F be the gradient of some function?

4. Explain the results of Problem 3 of Worksheet 24 in terms of the fundamental theorem

of line integrals.

5. If ∇g1 (x1 , . . . , xn ) = ∇g2 (x1 , . . . , xn ), what can you say about the functions g1 and g2 ?
(Hint: Consider ∇(g1 − g2 ).)

Problems
1. Which of the following are conservative vector fields? For each conservative vector
field, find a function for which it is the gradient.

(a) F(x, y) = (2xy + y)i + (x2 + x)j.

(b) F(x, y) = sin(xy)i + j.
(c) F(x, y) = y 2 i + (2xy + x)j.
(d) F(x, y, z) = x2 j + 3xzk.
!
2. Calculate the line integral c F · dr, where

F(x, y, z) = (yez − 2xy)i + (xez − x2 )j + (xyez )k

and
C = {(cos t, sin t, t) | 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π}
oriented with increasing t.
(Hint: Can you do this without actually evaluating the line integral?)

3. Consider
−y x
F(x, y) = # i+ # j.
x2 + y 2 x2 + y 2
!
(a) Calculate C F·dr where C is the unit circle oriented counter-clockwise by parametriz-
ing C and directly integrating.
Math 53 Worksheets, 7th Edition 56
(b) Show that F satisfies Equation 9.
(c) Let D be the portion of R2 where F is defined. Is D simply connected?
(d) Do (a) and (b) together contradict your answer to question 2?
QUESTIONS

1 .
Yes .The fundamental theorem of single-variable calculus is a
special case of the
fundamental theorem for line integrals.

.
2 Wor dons
by a conservative Vector field (i . .
e
gradient of a scalar function) along a closed

J
&
curve is
always .

F dr.
= 0
.
,

. Cal
3 if F = of then the line
J [Link]
integral
,
depends only on flendpoint) and
f(start).
9
:

F dr
flend)-f(start)
. =

given both C and I' have same end and start

,
CFdr SFdr =

: YES .

(b)
fF S Fdr
if F
-
dr =
,
both path independents. implies is a conservative
,
C

rector field ... F =

Of and XXF =
0 lence F must be
gradient of
scalar function .

: YES .

.? Nonsheet not given

4 .

S .
if
gradients of two functions are equal these differ
, by most a constant .

gp(x , . . .,
(n) =
gz(x , ...,
xn) + C

moreover they are potential functions (equivalent)

 PROBLEMS
1 .
how to determine if a rector field is conservative ?
(i) must be defined continuously .
(ii) curl = V xF =
if it is conservative it has a potential function such that F = Of

(a) F(x, y) =
(2xy +
y)i + (x +
-
x)y
-
F2
Fr

-
(D curl 0xF
if V
=

1 Chee F LS
=

Step : X =

- = (2 = (2

Step 2 : find potential function f(x , y)

E = F =
<xy +y
=
Curegraeef flexz) =

f(2xy +
y)dx =
xy +
xy +

1)
de ) = c +x =
Epotential function =
cyc

(b) Step 1 : VxF = Q

F(x y) ,
=

Sin(y)i y +

crl =

C =
1-xcosy) not conservative

(c) F(x, y) =
y24 +
(2xy + x)y
curl
= =
(y + -

(2y) =
10 not a
conservat

(d) F(x y z) , ,
=
xy + 3xzn
cre =

(C- + +
(
curl =
OT-375 + Ex # 0 : not conservative
. Calculate
2 line integral J ,
F dr.
where F(x y z), ,
=

(yet 2xy)4
- + (xet -

x)j (xyez) +

and C =

Glos(t) ,
sin(t) , +)1 Oft <
2M] oriented with
increasing t

Step 1 : cul = -xF = 0 ?

** F =

(+ +
conservative
!

Step 2 :
given
F is conservative
,
there exists a
potential function F =
Of
rector fields
* for conservative line
integral depends only on values of potential function at
endpoints of the curve .

: start : (cos(d) ,
sino
,
ol = (1 , 0, 0)
,
end : (cos(2n) ,
sin (21) , 24) = (1 ,
0
,
21)

Step 3 :
f (1 ,
0, 27) -
f (1 ,
0, 07 ?

f(x , y , z)
=? - find form through F = Of . .
SF = f

flyet-zay) cyet-cy
f(x dx gl,
y , z)
SFodo
1 = = +
.
,

Fy
-

=E
.
2
it
to find value
of C
.
ce-c x - = =

↓
now

C
we know

does not

..
opend a
h(z) z)
gly = =

3 same
with
4 ,

Jz

= ye net +

·: h'(z) =
&
hence => h(z) =
C

so potential function f(x , y , z) =

xyez-ciy + C

Step 4 : evaluate potential difference :

f(1 ,
0, 2n) = (1)(d)e2 -
(1) (0) + C =
C
f (1 , 0 ,
0) = (1)(0)(e) -
((2(0) + c = C
f (1 , 0 , 27)) -
f(1, 0 , 0) = c -
c = 0

solution :
I ,
Fdr = O
,
hence
yes you can do it without evaluating line integral .
 F(y)
= +25
3 .

(a)
9 F dr =

Step 1 :
parameterize unit circle : c = cost , y
= sint te[0 21]
,

= -sint , : cost

Step 2 : substitute into F(cc, y)

minit=- Since
F(, y) =

Step 3 : F -
dr = ( - sint + costy) ·
(-sintY +
costj) = 1

Steph
9F Cdt Ct]
:
. dr =
=
= 24
.

(b) show
satisfies=
: show that
G
#)
--
 57 Math 53 Worksheets, 7th Edition

27. Green’s Theorem

Green’s theorem gives a special technique for evaluating line integrals in the plane when the
domain of integration is a closed curve (i.e., a curve whose starting point is the same as its
ending point). Let F(x, y) = P (x, y)i + Q(x, y)j be a vector field. The theorem says that
if C is a closed curve in R2 and D is the region of the plane that C encloses, and if the
orientation of C is counter-clockwise around D, then
!! " #
∂P ∂Q
! !
F · dr = P (x, y) dx + Q(x, y) dy = − + dA.
C C ∂y ∂x
D

If we regard F as the velocity vector field of a fluid flowing in the plane then we can interpret
the expression − ∂P
∂y
+ ∂Q
∂x
as follows: at each point it measures the tendency of a paddle wheel
suspended in the fluid to rotate counter-clockwise. For this reason, the scalar-valued function
− ∂P
∂y
+ ∂Q
∂x
is called the circulation.

Questions
1. Suppose C is a closed curve in$ the plane oriented clockwise. Does Green’s theorem
give us any information about C F · dr?

2. Let C be a closed curve in the plane and let F be conservative.

$
(a) Use the fundamental theorem of line integrals to compute C
F · dr.
$
(b) Use Green’s theorem to compute C F · dr.

3. It appears as if Green’s theorem tells us that

! !!
x dx = 0 dx dy = 0.
C
D

But we know from single-variable calculus that

x2
!
x dx = + C.
2
Is something amiss?

4. Let C be a closed curve. What geometric quantity is computed by

1
!
−y dx + x dy?
2 C
There is a device used by surveyors called a mechanical integrator that uses this fact
to find areas by tracing out boundaries.
Questions
.
1 Yes but with reversed sign.

2 .
Cal if conservative F=
Xg
v

f
,
F dr =
g(B) g(A)
~
-
= @

closed cre g(B) =

g(A) v

(b)
9 F dr
99 C U
=
. -

given F=
g then - = 0
=
·
SS ,
odA = 0-

3 .
In single-variable fadx is over an interval .

In theorem
fdx
Green's is a line integral over a closed nature .

4
.
IfY
P
+
Q
dy
SS(e
-

-
( -)dA = 2A

heace A computed !
&xZA = ... signed area
Math 53 Worksheets, 7th Edition 58
Problems
2
x2
y 2 dx + x dy where C is the ellipse + yb2 = 1 oriented counter-clockwise.
!
1. Compute C a2

2. Let D = {(x, y) | a ≤ x ≤ b, c ≤ y ≤ d} be a rectangle, C be its boundary oriented

counter-clockwise, and F(x, y) = P (x, y)i.
C3

C4 C2

C1

Figure 24: An oriented rectangle.

(a) Explain in terms of work why

" " "
F · dr = F · dr + · · · + F · dr,
C C1 C4

where the Ci are the edges of the rectangle as in Figure 24.

(b) Show that " "
F · dr = F · dr = 0
C2 C4

by parametrizing C2 and C4 and directly integrating.

(c) Show that
" " " b
F · dr + F · dr = P (x, c) − P (x, d) dx
C1 C3 a

by parametrizing C1 and C3 and directly integrating.

(d) Let x be a fixed constant. Compute
d
∂P
"
− (x, y) dy
c ∂y
using the single-variable fundamental theorem.
(e) Conclude that
∂P
" ""
F · dr = − dx dy.
C ∂y
D

3. How is problem 2 related to Green’s theorem?

PROBLEMS

Sydx y
1
+

a
comterdocws
Step 1 :
parameterize ellipse >
-

x(t) = a cost , y(t) psint te [0 21]

=
,

= -

a sint , y t
= bcost

Step 2 substitute

Jy2dx S(bsinct)
:

+
dy = C-asint)dt + lacost) (bcost) at

J(tabsint)
~
+ (abcost) at

abf <-sint + cost) at

a
Std cost d
abst
odd function ,
one
cycle

~ ab .

[0 + at] ab(z xn] = = abx

G .
(a)
J ,
Fdr is total wore which is the sum of the wor
along each edge

of the rectangle (additivity Mwore). :

(Fdr [Link] + =
R -

dr+Fdrt
(b)
(F SF dr-dr =

2 +
parameterize >
-

((t) b =
, y(t) = t tE[c d] ,

dr = (0 ,
1)

SFdr St ydtOdy =
=
,
bt)
-

same for
SF but td
and
.
dr c(t)a , y(t)-E
 IF-dr 9 F =
( Show that
+
. dr PC , -
P(x d)dx
,

21
in up
-
-S

9. +> x(t) = t
y(t) =
c t t [a , b) ( +
x(t) = y(t) d= + =[b
,
a]
dr = (1 ,
ddt dr = 4 , 0) dt

SFdr =P 1ddFdrPtd)dtPd
-

Sp ,
cd +
-Pdd = P c ,
-
P(x d)dx ,

gd(y)
(d) Pc-Pc
dy
=

(e) conclude
SFdr SS =

(d) it all sides of rectangle using CC) and Green's

given we
generalize accross

theorem allows us to transform boundary integral to double integral over

region D
.

3
. Problem 2 is a direct
application of Green's theorem showing its application to
convert boundary integral into region integral (e) .