Consider the gradient field {2xy,x^2-y^2}. Does it come from a potential? If so, what is the potential?

In[28]:=

  Clear[pot,v,x,y,f]
  v[x_,y_]:={2 x y, x^2-y^2}

In[29]:=

  curl2[v][x,y]

Out[29]=

  0

In[30]:=

  test=Integrate[v[t,y][[1]],{t,0,x}]+f[y]

Out[30]=

   2
  x  y + f[y]

In[31]:=

  D[test,y]

Out[31]=

   2
  x  + f'[y]

In[32]:=

  Solve[D[test,y]==v[x,y][[2]],f'[y]];
  dfy=Evaluate[f'[y]/.Flatten[%]]/.y->t

Out[32]=

    2
  -t

In[33]:=

  Integrate[dfy,{t,0,y}]

Out[33]=

    3
  -y
  ---
   3

So . . .

the potential function is x^2 y - 1/3 y^3 + C.

In[34]:=

  pot[x_,y_]:=x^2 y-1/3 y^3

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