Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2025 / Paper 1 / 16 / d / Solution

The gradient isIt is perpendicular to each nonzero level set and points towards increasing $f$. Near the two positive local maxima, the Hessian matrix is $-2e^{-1}I$, so the gradient arrows point inward. Near the two negative local minima, the Hessian matrix is $2e^{-1}I$, so they point outward. These arrows are shown on the figure in part (c).

At the saddle point, $\nabla f\approx (v,u{)}^T$. Along $v=u$, the arrows point away from the centre on both sides; along $v=-u$, they point towards the centre on both sides. On the positive $u$ axis they point up, on the negative $u$ axis down, on the positive $v$ axis right, and on the negative $v$ axis left. This specifies the four intervening sectors of the gradient pattern.