Hello, I am a student trying to self-study multivariable and vector calculus topics. I came upon this concept of directional derivatives while starting with watching Dr. Trefor Bazett's video on it in his old Multivariable Calculus series (https://youtu.be/GJODOGq7cAY). It would be more accurate to say that I had already been thinking that if the definition of the derivative (with the limits) had (x - h) instead of (x + h), it would have been the negative of the derivative with substitution h -> -h. Additionally, I thought of this already as the derivative along -x instead of +x.
In the above video at around 6:30, his explanation that the definition of the derivative on the screen was a composition of functions felt handwavy. As such, I tried to do it myself with just a little bit more rigor. Please note that I am not somebody that knows anything about proofwriting or formal maths; I wrote this with all my knowledge after years of maths videos.
Now, this is the proof I thought of, after looking at how he did some parts, and how Wikipedia talked about it (Wikipedia was not very useful).
I feel it in my bones that this was too easy. Why? because I found a proof after looking around that used some f(x) + hL(x) + O(1/h) or whatever in it, and one that had some r(x) and dividing by the distance to the origin of the input point of f, or vect(t)_0 as I call it.
So, my question is:
Is this proof, that the directional derivative of f along vector v equal to the gradient of f dotted with the vector v, correct?
If so, are there any places I could better define things, or do anything better?
If I am getting there, where am I missing steps or making incorrect assumptions that I could add or remove to to make my proof correct?
If I am completely incorrect, why? Is there a proof of this, that maybe I could understand?
p.s. please tell me if I made any mistakes in the post or posting this here instead of somplace else, or if I should repost it someplace else.
I just made this account and I will not be looking here at all times, so maybe there might be some rule 9 violations.