For a function of two variables z=f(x,y), the gradient is the two-dimensional vector <f_x(x,y),f_y(x,y)>. This definition generalizes in a natural way to functions of more than three variables. For the function z=f(x,y)=4x^2+y^2.
By this definition, about 10% of people who smoke marijuana become addicted to it. (More on Time.com: PHOTOS â Cannabis Conventions). However, nonspecialists (including many doctors) still tend to use an older perspective, now seen as outdated by experts.
One Columbia University doctor believes that marijuana has become more addictive in this day and age, due to stronger potency of THC. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.