Vector calculus identities explained

See also: Vector algebra relations. The following are important identities involving derivatives and integrals in vector calculus.

Operator notation

Gradient

See main article: Gradient.

For a function

f(x,y,z)

in three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate variables, the gradient is the vector field:

\operatorname{grad}(f)=\nablaf= \begin{pmatrix}\displaystyle

	\partial	,
	\partialx

	\partial	,
	\partialy

	\partial
	\partialz

\end{pmatrix}f=

	\partialf
	\partialx

	\partialf
	\partialy

	\partialf
	\partialz

where i, j, k are the standard unit vectors for the x, y, z-axes. More generally, for a function of n variables

\psi(x_1,\ldots,x_n)

, also called a scalar field, the gradient is the vector field:

\nabla\psi = \begin\displaystyle\frac, \ldots, \frac \end\psi = \frac \mathbf_1 + \dots + \frac\mathbf_n

where

e_i(i=1,2,...,n)

are mutually orthogonal unit vectors.

As the name implies, the gradient is proportional to, and points in the direction of, the function's most rapid (positive) change.

For a vector field

A=\left(A_1,\ldots,A_n\right)

, also called a tensor field of order 1, the gradient or total derivative is the n × n Jacobian matrix:

\mathbf_ = d\mathbf = (\nabla \!\mathbf)^\textsf = \left(\frac\right)_.

of any order k, the gradient

\operatorname{grad}(T)=dT=(\nablaT)^sf{T}

is a tensor field of order k + 1.

For a tensor field

of order k > 0, the tensor field

\nablaT

of order k + 1 is defined by the recursive relation

(\nabla \mathbf) \cdot \mathbf = \nabla (\mathbf \cdot \mathbf)

where

is an arbitrary constant vector.

Divergence

See main article: Divergence.

F=F_xi+F_yj+F_zk

is the scalar-valued function:

\operatorname\mathbf = \nabla\cdot\mathbf = \begin\displaystyle\frac,\ \frac,\ \frac\end \cdot \beginF_,\ F_,\ F_\end = \frac + \frac + \frac.

As the name implies, the divergence is a (local) measure of the degree to which vectors in the field diverge.

of non-zero order k is written as

\operatorname{div}(T)=\nabla ⋅ T

, a contraction of a tensor field of order k − 1. Specifically, the divergence of a vector is a scalar. The divergence of a higher-order tensor field may be found by decomposing the tensor field into a sum of outer products and using the identity,

\nabla \cdot \left(\mathbf \otimes \mathbf\right) = \mathbf (\nabla \cdot \mathbf) + (\mathbf \cdot \nabla) \mathbf

where

A ⋅ \nabla

is the directional derivative in the direction of

multiplied by its magnitude. Specifically, for the outer product of two vectors,

\nabla \cdot \left(\mathbf \mathbf^\textsf\right) = \mathbf (\nabla \cdot \mathbf) + (\mathbf \cdot \nabla) \mathbf.

For a tensor field

of order k > 1, the tensor field

\nabla ⋅ T

of order k − 1 is defined by the recursive relation

(\nabla \cdot \mathbf) \cdot \mathbf = \nabla \cdot (\mathbf \cdot \mathbf)

where

is an arbitrary constant vector.

Curl

See main article: Curl (mathematics).

In Cartesian coordinates, for

F=F_xi+F_yj+F_zk

the curl is the vector field:

\begin\operatorname\mathbf &= \nabla \times \mathbf = \begin\displaystyle\frac,\ \frac,\ \frac\end \times \beginF_,\ F_,\ F_\end = \begin \mathbf & \mathbf & \mathbf \\ \frac & \frac & \frac \\ F_x & F_y & F_z \end \\[1em] &= \left(\frac - \frac\right) \mathbf + \left(\frac - \frac\right) \mathbf + \left(\frac - \frac\right) \mathbf \end

where i, j, and k are the unit vectors for the x-, y-, and z-axes, respectively.

As the name implies the curl is a measure of how much nearby vectors tend in a circular direction.

In Einstein notation, the vector field

F=\begin{pmatrix}F_1, F_2, F_{3\end{pmatrix}}

has curl given by:

\nabla \times \mathbf = \varepsilon^\mathbf_i \frac

where

\varepsilon

= ±1 or 0 is the Levi-Civita parity symbol.

For a tensor field

of order k > 1, the tensor field

\nabla x T

of order k is defined by the recursive relation

(\nabla \times \mathbf) \cdot \mathbf = \nabla \times (\mathbf \cdot \mathbf)

where

is an arbitrary constant vector.

A tensor field of order greater than one may be decomposed into a sum of outer products, and then the following identity may be used: $\nabla \times \left(\mathbf \otimes \mathbf\right) = (\nabla \times \mathbf) \otimes \mathbf - \mathbf \times (\nabla \mathbf).$ Specifically, for the outer product of two vectors, $\nabla \times \left(\mathbf \mathbf^\textsf\right) = (\nabla \times \mathbf) \mathbf^\textsf - \mathbf \times (\nabla \mathbf).$

Laplacian

See main article: Laplace operator.

In Cartesian coordinates, the Laplacian of a function

f(x,y,z)

\Delta f = \nabla^2\! f = (\nabla \cdot \nabla) f = \frac + \frac + \frac.

The Laplacian is a measure of how much a function is changing over a small sphere centered at the point.

When the Laplacian is equal to 0, the function is called a harmonic function. That is, $\Delta f = 0.$

For a tensor field,

, the Laplacian is generally written as:

\Delta\mathbf = \nabla^2 \mathbf = (\nabla \cdot \nabla) \mathbf

and is a tensor field of the same order.

For a tensor field

of order k > 0, the tensor field

\nabla²T

of order k is defined by the recursive relation

\left(\nabla^2 \mathbf\right) \cdot \mathbf = \nabla^2 (\mathbf \cdot \mathbf)

where

is an arbitrary constant vector.

Special notations

In Feynman subscript notation, $\nabla_\mathbf\! \left(\mathbf \right) = \mathbf \! \left(\nabla \mathbf \right) + \left(\mathbf \nabla \right) \mathbf$ where the notation ∇_B means the subscripted gradient operates on only the factor B.^[1] ^[2]

Less general but similar is the Hestenes overdot notation in geometric algebra.^[3] The above identity is then expressed as: $\dot \left(\mathbf \dot \right) = \mathbf \! \left(\nabla \mathbf \right) + \left(\mathbf \nabla \right) \mathbf$ where overdots define the scope of the vector derivative. The dotted vector, in this case B, is differentiated, while the (undotted) A is held constant.

The utility of the Feynman subscript notation lies in its use in the derivation of vector and tensor derivative identities, as in the following example which uses the algebraic identity C⋅(A×B) = (C×A)⋅B:

\begin{align} \nabla ⋅ (A x B) &=\nabla_A ⋅ (A x B) +\nabla_B ⋅ (A x B)\\[2pt] &=(\nabla_A x A) ⋅ B +(\nabla_B x A) ⋅ B\\[2pt] &=(\nabla_A x A) ⋅ B -(A x \nabla_B) ⋅ B\\[2pt] &=(\nabla_A x A) ⋅ B -A ⋅ (\nabla_B x B)\\[2pt] &=(\nabla x A) ⋅ B -A ⋅ (\nabla x B) \end{align}

An alternative method is to use the Cartesian components of the del operator as follows:

\begin{align} \nabla ⋅ (A x B) &=e_i\partial_i ⋅ (A x B)\\[2pt] &=e_i ⋅ (\partial_iA x B +A x \partial_iB)\\[2pt] &=e_i ⋅ (\partial_iA x B) +e_i ⋅ (A x \partial_iB)\\[2pt] &=(e_i x \partial_iA) ⋅ B +(e_i x A) ⋅ \partial_iB\\[2pt] &=(e_i x \partial_iA) ⋅ B -(A x e_i) ⋅ \partial_iB\\[2pt] &=(e_i x \partial_iA) ⋅ B -A ⋅ (e_i x \partial_iB)\\[2pt] &=(e_i\partial_i x A) ⋅ B -A ⋅ (e_i\partial_i x B)\\[2pt] &=(\nabla x A) ⋅ B -A ⋅ (\nabla x B) \end{align}

Another method of deriving vector and tensor derivative identities is to replace all occurrences of a vector in an algebraic identity by the del operator, provided that no variable occurs both inside and outside the scope of an operator or both inside the scope of one operator in a term and outside the scope of another operator in the same term (i.e., the operators must be nested). The validity of this rule follows from the validity of the Feynman method, for one may always substitute a subscripted del and then immediately drop the subscript under the condition of the rule. For example, from the identity A⋅(B×C) = (A×B)⋅C we may derive A⋅(∇×C) = (A×∇)⋅C but not ∇⋅(B×C) = (∇×B)⋅C, nor from A⋅(B×A) = 0 may we derive A⋅(∇×A) = 0. On the other hand, a subscripted del operates on all occurrences of the subscript in the term, so that A⋅(∇_A×A) = ∇_A⋅(A×A) = ∇⋅(A×A) = 0. Also, from A×(A×C) = A(A⋅C) − (A⋅A)C we may derive ∇×(∇×C) = ∇(∇⋅C) − ∇²C, but from (Aψ)⋅(Aφ) = (A⋅A)(ψφ) we may not derive (∇ψ)⋅(∇φ) = ∇²(ψφ).

For the remainder of this article, Feynman subscript notation will be used where appropriate.

First derivative identities

For scalar fields

\psi

\phi

and vector fields

, we have the following derivative identities.

Distributive properties

\begin{align} \nabla(\psi+\phi)&=\nabla\psi+\nabla\phi\\ \nabla(A+B)&=\nablaA+\nablaB\\ \nabla ⋅ (A+B)&=\nabla ⋅ A+\nabla ⋅ B\\ \nabla x (A+B)&=\nabla x A+\nabla x B \end{align}

First derivative associative properties

\begin{align} (A ⋅ \nabla)\psi&=A ⋅ (\nabla\psi)\\ (A ⋅ \nabla)B&=A ⋅ (\nablaB)\\ (A x \nabla)\psi&=A x (\nabla\psi)\\ (A x \nabla)B&=A x (\nablaB) \end{align}

Product rule for multiplication by a scalar

We have the following generalizations of the product rule in single-variable calculus.

\begin{align} \nabla(\psi\phi)&=\phi\nabla\psi+\psi\nabla\phi\\ \nabla(\psiA)&=(\nabla\psi)A^sf{T}+\psi\nablaA = \nabla\psi ⊗ A+\psi\nablaA\\ \nabla ⋅ (\psiA)&=\psi\nabla{ ⋅ }A+(\nabla\psi){ ⋅ }A\\ \nabla{ x }(\psiA)&=\psi\nabla{ x }A+(\nabla\psi){ x }A\\ \nabla²(\psi\phi)&=\psi\nabla²\phi+2\nabla\psi ⋅ \nabla\phi+\phi\nabla²\psi \end{align}

Quotient rule for division by a scalar

\begin{align} \nabla\left(

	\psi
	\phi

\right)&=

	\phi\nabla\psi-\psi\nabla\phi
	\phi²

\\[1em] \nabla\left(

	A
	\phi

\right)&=

	\phi\nablaA-\nabla\phi ⊗ A
	\phi²

\\[1em] \nabla ⋅ \left(

	A
	\phi

\right)&=

	\phi\nabla{ ⋅
	A

-\nabla\phi ⋅ A

} \\[1em] \nabla \times \left(\frac\right) &= \frac \\[1em] \nabla^2 \left(\frac\right) &= \frac\end

Chain rule

Let

f(x)

be a one-variable function from scalars to scalars,

r(t)=(x_1(t),\ldots,x_n(t))

a parametrized curve,

\phi:Rⁿ\toR

a function from vectors to scalars, and

A:Rⁿ\toRⁿ

a vector field. We have the following special cases of the multi-variable chain rule.

\begin{align} \nabla(f\circ\phi)&=\left(f'\circ\phi\right)\nabla\phi\\ (r\circf)'&=(r'\circf)f'\\ (\phi\circr)'&=(\nabla\phi\circr) ⋅ r'\\ (A\circr)'&=r' ⋅ (\nablaA\circr)\\ \nabla(\phi\circA)&=(\nablaA) ⋅ (\nabla\phi\circA)\\ \nabla ⋅ (r\circ\phi)&=\nabla\phi ⋅ (r'\circ\phi)\\ \nabla x (r\circ\phi)&=\nabla\phi x (r'\circ\phi) \end{align}

For a vector transformation

x:Rⁿ\toRⁿ

we have:

\nabla ⋅ (A\circx)=tr\left((\nablax) ⋅ (\nablaA\circx)\right)

Here we take the trace of the dot product of two second-order tensors, which corresponds to the product of their matrices.

Dot product rule

\begin{align} \nabla(A ⋅ B)& = (A ⋅ \nabla)B+(B ⋅ \nabla)A+A{ x }(\nabla{ x }B)+B{ x }(\nabla{ x }A)\\ & = A ⋅ J_B+B ⋅ J_A = (\nablaB) ⋅ A+(\nablaA) ⋅ B \end{align}

where

J_A=(\nablaA)^sf{T}=(\partialA_i/\partialx_j)_ij

denotes the Jacobian matrix of the vector field

A=(A_1,\ldots,A_n)

Alternatively, using Feynman subscript notation,

\nabla(A ⋅ B)=\nabla_A(A ⋅ B)+\nabla_B(A ⋅ B) .

See these notes.^[4]

As a special case, when,

\tfrac{1}{2}\nabla\left(A ⋅ A\right) = A ⋅ J_A = (\nablaA) ⋅ A = (A{ ⋅ }\nabla)A+A{ x }(\nabla{ x }A) = A\nablaA .

The generalization of the dot product formula to Riemannian manifolds is a defining property of a Riemannian connection, which differentiates a vector field to give a vector-valued 1-form.

Cross product rule

\begin{align} \nabla(A x B) & = (\nablaA) x B-(\nablaB) x A\\[5pt] \nabla ⋅ (A x B) & = (\nabla{ x }A) ⋅ B-A ⋅ (\nabla{ x }B)\\[5pt] \nabla x (A x B) & = A(\nabla{ ⋅ }B)-B(\nabla{ ⋅ }A)+(B{ ⋅ }\nabla)A-(A{ ⋅ }\nabla)B\\[2pt] & = A(\nabla{ ⋅ }B)+(B{ ⋅ }\nabla)A-(B(\nabla{ ⋅ }A)+(A{ ⋅ }\nabla)B)\\[2pt] & = \nabla{ ⋅ }\left(BA^sf{T}\right)-\nabla{ ⋅ }\left(AB^{sf{T}\right)\\[2pt]}& = \nabla{ ⋅ }\left(BA^sf{T}-AB^{sf{T}\right)\\[5pt]}A x (\nabla x B) & = \nabla_B(A{ ⋅ }B)-(A{ ⋅ }\nabla)B\\[2pt] & = A ⋅ J_B-(A{ ⋅ }\nabla)B\\[2pt] & = (\nablaB) ⋅ A-A ⋅ (\nablaB)\\[2pt] & = A ⋅ (J_B-

	sf{T})\\[5pt]
J
	B

(A x \nabla) x B & = (\nablaB) ⋅ A-A(\nabla{ ⋅ }B)\\[2pt] & = A x (\nabla x B)+(A{ ⋅ }\nabla)B-A(\nabla{ ⋅ }B)\\[5pt] (A x \nabla) ⋅ B & = A ⋅ (\nabla{ x }B) \end{align}

Note that the matrix

J_B-

	sf{T}
J
	B

is antisymmetric.

Second derivative identities

Divergence of curl is zero

The divergence of the curl of any continuously twice-differentiable vector field A is always zero: $\nabla \cdot (\nabla \times \mathbf) = 0$

This is a special case of the vanishing of the square of the exterior derivative in the De Rham chain complex.

Divergence of gradient is Laplacian

The Laplacian of a scalar field is the divergence of its gradient: $\Delta \psi = \nabla^2 \psi = \nabla \cdot (\nabla \psi)$ The result is a scalar quantity.

Divergence of divergence is not defined

The divergence of a vector field A is a scalar, and the divergence of a scalar quantity is undefined. Therefore, $\nabla \cdot (\nabla \cdot \mathbf) \text$

Curl of gradient is zero

\varphi

(i.e., differentiability class

C²

) is always the zero vector:

\nabla \times (\nabla \varphi) = \mathbf.

It can be easily proved by expressing

\nabla x (\nabla\varphi)

in a Cartesian coordinate system with Schwarz's theorem (also called Clairaut's theorem on equality of mixed partials). This result is a special case of the vanishing of the square of the exterior derivative in the De Rham chain complex.

Curl of curl

$\nabla \times \left(\nabla \times \mathbf \right) \ =\ \nabla(\nabla \mathbf) \,-\, \nabla^\mathbf$

Here ∇² is the vector Laplacian operating on the vector field A.

Curl of divergence is not defined

The divergence of a vector field A is a scalar, and the curl of a scalar quantity is undefined. Therefore, $\nabla \times (\nabla \cdot \mathbf) \text$

Second derivative associative properties

\begin{align} (\nabla ⋅ \nabla)\psi&=\nabla ⋅ (\nabla\psi)=\nabla²\psi\\ (\nabla ⋅ \nabla)A&=\nabla ⋅ (\nablaA)=\nabla²A\\ (\nabla x \nabla)\psi&=\nabla x (\nabla\psi)=0\\ (\nabla x \nabla)A&=\nabla x (\nablaA)=0 \end{align}

A mnemonic

The figure to the right is a mnemonic for some of these identities. The abbreviations used are:

D: divergence,
C: curl,
G: gradient,
L: Laplacian,
CC: curl of curl.

Each arrow is labeled with the result of an identity, specifically, the result of applying the operator at the arrow's tail to the operator at its head. The blue circle in the middle means curl of curl exists, whereas the other two red circles (dashed) mean that DD and GG do not exist.

Summary of important identities

Differentiation

Gradient

\nabla(\psi+\phi)=\nabla\psi+\nabla\phi

\nabla(\psi\phi)=\phi\nabla\psi+\psi\nabla\phi

\nabla(\psiA)=\nabla\psi ⊗ A+\psi\nablaA

\nabla(A ⋅ B)=(A ⋅ \nabla)B+(B ⋅ \nabla)A+A x (\nabla x B) +B x (\nabla x A)

Divergence

\nabla ⋅ (A+B)=\nabla ⋅ A+\nabla ⋅ B

\nabla ⋅ \left(\psiA\right)=\psi\nabla ⋅ A+A ⋅ \nabla\psi

\nabla ⋅ \left(A x B\right)=(\nabla x A) ⋅ B-(\nabla x B) ⋅ A

Curl

\nabla x (A+B)=\nabla x A+\nabla x B

\nabla x \left(\psiA\right)=\psi(\nabla x A)-(A x \nabla)\psi=\psi(\nabla x A)+(\nabla\psi) x A

\nabla x \left(\psi\nabla\phi\right)=\nabla\psi x \nabla\phi

\nabla x \left(A x B\right)=A\left(\nabla ⋅ B\right)-B\left(\nabla ⋅ A\right)+\left(B ⋅ \nabla\right)A-\left(A ⋅ \nabla\right)B

^[5]

Vector-dot-Del Operator

(A ⋅ \nabla)B=

	1
	2

[\nabla(A ⋅ B)-\nabla x (A x B)-B x (\nabla x A)-A x (\nabla x B)-B(\nabla ⋅ A)+A(\nabla ⋅ B)]

^[6]

(A ⋅ \nabla)A=

	1
	2

\nabla|A|^{2-A x (\nabla x A)}=

	1
	2

\nabla|A|²+(\nabla x A) x A

A ⋅ \nabla(B ⋅ B)=2B ⋅ (A ⋅ \nabla)B

Second derivatives

\nabla ⋅ (\nabla x A)=0

\nabla x (\nabla\psi)=0

\nabla ⋅ (\nabla\psi)=\nabla^2\psi

(scalar Laplacian)

\nabla\left(\nabla ⋅ A\right)-\nabla x \left(\nabla x A\right)=\nabla^2A

(vector Laplacian)

\nabla ⋅ (\phi\nabla\psi)=\phi\nabla^2\psi+\nabla\phi ⋅ \nabla\psi

\psi\nabla^2\phi-\phi\nabla^2\psi=\nabla ⋅ \left(\psi\nabla\phi-\phi\nabla\psi\right)

\nabla^2(\phi\psi)=\phi\nabla^2\psi+2(\nabla\phi) ⋅ (\nabla\psi)+\left(\nabla^{2\phi\right)\psi}

\nabla^2(\psiA)=A\nabla^2\psi+2(\nabla\psi ⋅ \nabla)A+\psi\nabla^2A

\nabla^2(A ⋅ B)=A ⋅ \nabla^2B-B ⋅ \nabla^2A+2\nabla ⋅ ((B ⋅ \nabla)A+B x (\nabla x A))

(Green's vector identity)

Third derivatives

\nabla^{2(\nabla\psi)}=\nabla(\nabla ⋅ (\nabla\psi))=\nabla\left(\nabla^2\psi\right)

\nabla^2(\nabla ⋅ A)=\nabla ⋅ (\nabla(\nabla ⋅ A))=\nabla ⋅ \left(\nabla^2A\right)

\nabla²(\nabla x A)=-\nabla x (\nabla x (\nabla x A))=\nabla x \left(\nabla^2A\right)

Integration

Below, the curly symbol ∂ means "boundary of" a surface or solid.

Surface–volume integrals

In the following surface–volume integral theorems, V denotes a three-dimensional volume with a corresponding two-dimensional boundary S = ∂V (a closed surface):

- (divergence theorem)
- (Green's first identity)
(Green's second identity)
(integration by parts)
(integration by parts)
(integration by parts)
^[7]
^[8]

Curve–surface integrals

In the following curve–surface integral theorems, S denotes a 2d open surface with a corresponding 1d boundary C = ∂S (a closed curve):

\oint_\partialA ⋅ d\boldsymbol{\ell} = \iint_S\left(\nabla x A\right) ⋅ dS

(Stokes' theorem)

\oint_\partial\psid\boldsymbol{\ell} = -\iint_S\nabla\psi x dS

\oint_\partialA x d\boldsymbol{\ell} = -\iint_S\left(\nablaA-(\nabla ⋅ A)1\right) ⋅ dS = -\iint_S\left(dS x \nabla\right) x A

\oint_\partialA x (B x d\boldsymbol{\ell}) = \iint_S\left(\nabla x \left(AB^{sf{T}\right)\right) ⋅ dS}+\iint_S\left(\nabla ⋅ \left(BA^{sf{T}\right)\right) x dS}

^[9]

\oint_\partial(B ⋅ d\boldsymbol{\ell})A=\iint_S(dS ⋅ \left[\nabla x B-B x \nabla\right])A

^[10]

Integration around a closed curve in the clockwise sense is the negative of the same line integral in the counterclockwise sense (analogous to interchanging the limits in a definite integral):

Endpoint-curve integrals

In the following endpoint–curve integral theorems, P denotes a 1d open path with signed 0d boundary points

q-p=\partialP

and integration along P is from

\psi|_\partial=\psi(q)-\psi(p)=\int_P\nabla\psi ⋅ d\boldsymbol{\ell}

(gradient theorem)

A|_\partial=A(q)-A(p)=\int_P\left(d\boldsymbol{\ell} ⋅ \nabla\right)A

A|_\partial=A(q)-A(p)=\int_P\left(\nablaA\right) ⋅ d\boldsymbol{\ell}+\int_P\left(\nabla x A\right) x d\boldsymbol{\ell}

Tensor integrals

A tensor form of a vector integral theorem may be obtained by replacing the vector (or one of them) by a tensor, provided that the vector is first made to appear only as the right-most vector of each integrand. For example, Stokes' theorem becomes

\oint_\partiald\boldsymbol{\ell} ⋅ T = \iint_SdS ⋅ \left(\nabla x T\right)

A scalar field may also be treated as a vector and replaced by a vector or tensor. For example, Green's first identity becomes

Similar rules apply to algebraic and differentiation formulas. For algebraic formulas one may alternatively use the left-most vector position.

Notes and References

Book: R. P. . Feynman . R. B. . Leighton . M. . Sands . The Feynman Lectures on Physics . Addison-Wesley . 1964 . 0-8053-9049-9 . true . Vol II, p. 27–4.
physics/0504223 . A. L. . Kholmetskii . O. V. . Missevitch . The Faraday induction law in relativity theory . 2005 . 4 .
Book: C. . Doran . Chris J. L. Doran . A. . Lasenby . Geometric algebra for physicists . 2003 . Cambridge University Press . 169 . 978-0-521-71595-9.
Book: Kelly . P. . 2013 . Mechanics Lecture Notes Part III: Foundations of Continuum Mechanics . University of Auckland . Chapter 1.14 Tensor Calculus 1: Tensor Fields . http://homepages.engineering.auckland.ac.nz/~pkel015/SolidMechanicsBooks/Part_III/Chapter_1_Vectors_Tensors/Vectors_Tensors_14_Tensor_Calculus.pdf . 7 December 2017.
Web site: lecture15.pdf .
Book: Kuo . Kenneth K. . Acharya . Ragini . Applications of turbulent and multi-phase combustion . 2012 . Wiley . Hoboken, N.J. . 9781118127575 . 520 . 10.1002/9781118127575.app1 . 19 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419221120/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781118127575.app1. 19 April 2021 . live .
Page and Adams, pp. 65–66.
Book: Wangsness . Roald K. . Cloud . Michael J. . Electromagnetic Fields . Wiley . 1986 . 978-0-471-81186-2. 2nd .
Book: Electrodynamics. pp. 44–45, Eq. (18-3). Leigh. Page. Norman Ilsley, Jr.. Adams. 1940. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc.. New York.
Pérez-Garrido. Antonio. 2024 . Recovering seldom-used theorems of vector calculus and their application to problems of electromagnetism . American Journal of Physics . 92 . 5. 354-359 . 10.1119/5.0182191. 2312.17268 .

Vector calculus identities explained

Operator notation

Gradient

Divergence

Curl

Laplacian

Special notations

First derivative identities

Distributive properties

First derivative associative properties

Product rule for multiplication by a scalar

Quotient rule for division by a scalar

Chain rule

Dot product rule

Cross product rule

Second derivative identities

Divergence of curl is zero

Divergence of gradient is Laplacian

Divergence of divergence is not defined

Curl of gradient is zero

Curl of curl

Curl of divergence is not defined

Second derivative associative properties

A mnemonic

Summary of important identities

Differentiation

Gradient

Divergence

Curl

Vector-dot-Del Operator

Second derivatives

Third derivatives

Integration

Surface–volume integrals

Curve–surface integrals

Endpoint-curve integrals

Tensor integrals

Further reading

Notes and References