Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ia / Paper 3 / 9B (Vector Calculus)

Assume $B$ is continuously differentiable. Apply the chain rule to each component with $z_j=t{x}_j$:Contracting the first identity with $x_j$ provesHere $\nabla$ differentiates with respect to $x$ at fixed $t$, while the time derivative holds $x$ fixed. The equality follows directly even at $t=0$; no division by $t$ is needed. It holds componentwise for the vector field, so it is not restricted to scalar functions.

For a twice continuously differentiable vector potential $A$, write the curl with the Levi-Civita symbol:The second derivatives are symmetric in $i,j$, whereas ${ϵ}_{ijk}$ is antisymmetric, so the contraction is zero. Equivalently, writing out the three components shows that each mixed derivative cancels its reversed-order partner. ThusThis is divergence of a curl is zero. The regularity hypothesis is what licenses commutation of the mixed partial derivatives; it must not be omitted for a singular potential without specifying a weaker derivative interpretation.

Use the usual setting of a continuously differentiable solenoidal vector field defined on all radial segments from the origin, including the origin. More generally an open star-shaped set containing zero suffices. Differentiation under the integral sign givesApply divergence and curl of a cross product with the second field $x$, using $\nabla \cdot x=3$ and $(D\cdot \nabla )x=D$:The scaling identity in part (a) now converts the last expression to a one-variable derivative:Continuity at the origin ensures the lower endpoint is zero. Hence the radial vector potential of a solenoidal vector field isThe order of the cross product matters: $x\times D$ would produce $-B$. This construction is not valid on every punctured or multiply connected domain. For example $B=x/|x{|}^3$ is solenoidal away from zero, but its radial integral diverges at zero and it has nonzero flux through a surrounding sphere. The stated formula therefore implicitly needs the regular radial-domain hypothesis, rather than just local zero divergence.