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Assume the continuously differentiable irrotational vector field is defined on all of ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, as in this vector calculus setting. A constructive vector-field potential with the requested negative-gradient convention isSince zero curl means ${\partial }_i{E}_j={\partial }_j{E}_i$, differentiation under the integral givesThus $E=-\nabla \varphi$. This is the Poincare lemma in its straight-line form, and works on any star-shaped set about the integration base point. Zero curl on a domain with holes would not by itself guarantee a global vector-field potential; the full-space hypothesis matters.

For the given field, the second component requires ${\varphi }_y=y{e}^{-x^{2}z}$. Integration in $y$ gives $\varphi =\frac{1}{2}{y}^2{e}^{-x^{2}z}+C(x,z)$. Its $x$ derivative is $-x{y}^{2}z{e}^{-x^{2}z}+C_x$, and its $z$ derivative is $-\frac{1}{2}{x}^2{y}^2{e}^{-x^{2}z}+C_z$. Comparison with the other two components forces $C_x=C_z=0$. HenceIts negative gradient is exactly the given field. Because this vector-field potential is smooth everywhere, commutation of mixed partial derivatives gives $\nabla \times E=-\nabla \times \nabla \varphi =0$, verifying irrotationality. All such vector-field potentials differ by a constant on the connected domain.

Take the normal vector outward from the cylinder-and-cone solid. The surface consists of the cylindrical side and conical roof, with no bottom disk; this convention fixes the otherwise unspecified orientation of a surface. The boundary is the radius-two circle at $z=-2$. Reversing every normal vector reverses the final sign.

For $\mathbf{F}=(y{z}^2,0,0)$, its curl is $(0,2yz,-z^2)$. For the cylindrical parametrized surface, use ${\mathbf{r}}_c=(2\cos \theta ,2\sin \theta ,z)$, with $-2\le z\le 2$, and use ${\mathbf{r}}_{c,\theta }\times {\mathbf{r}}_{c,z}=(2\cos \theta ,2\sin \theta ,0)$ as the outward area vector. Its flux isFor the cone, let $q=4-z$, $2\le z\le 4$ and ${\mathbf{r}}_k=(q\cos \theta ,q\sin \theta ,z)$. Its outward area vector is ${\mathbf{r}}_{k,\theta }\times {\mathbf{r}}_{k,z}=(q\cos \theta ,q\sin \theta ,q)$. ThusThe total surface integral is therefore $-16\pi$ with the outward convention, or $+16\pi$ for the opposite convention.

For Stokes theorem, the induced bottom-circle orientation is counterclockwise as viewed from above, opposite to the orientation of an outward bottom cap. Use $\mathbf{r}=(2\cos \theta ,2\sin \theta ,-2)$ with increasing $\theta$. Thenagreeing with the two parametrized fluxes. The seam at $z=2$ is internal and cancels between the two pieces; the cone tip does not supply another boundary curve.