Derivative of multivariable function f:R^n∖{0}->R^n,f(x)=g(∥x∥)x

Emmy Swanson

Emmy Swanson

Answered question

2022-10-31

Derivative of multivariable function f : R n { 0 } R n , f ( x ) = g ( x ) x
I used the product and chain rule.
J f ( x ) = x g ( x ) 1 x x + g ( r ) I n
The solution says it's J f ( x ) = g ( r ) 1 x x x T + g ( r ) I n
why do we have x x T ? Why the transpose?

Answer & Explanation

aitorarjolia

aitorarjolia

Beginner2022-11-01Added 11 answers

You need to be careful when you write the dot where you really mean matrix multiplications. If x is a column vector, x x T is an n × n matrix; but x T x is not. In any case, x x does not make sense and x x would be a scalar if you do inner product.
You may work on the case when n = 2 and write everything in terms of components to see what happens.

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