Identify the function (f(x, y)) or (f(x_1, x_2, dots, x_n))
Compute the partial derivative with respect to each variable
Form the gradient as the vector of partial derivatives
Write (nabla f = left(frac{partial f}{partial x}, frac{partial f}{partial y}right)) for two variables
Write (nabla f = left(frac{partial f}{partial x_1}, frac{partial f}{partial x_2}, dots, frac{partial f}{partial x_n}right)) for (n) variables
Evaluate the partial derivatives at the required point if a specific point is given
Simplify the resulting vector
Use the gradient direction as the direction of steepest increase
Use the gradient magnitude as the rate of steepest increase