Changing derivative into partial

In summary, changing a derivative into a partial derivative is allowed when x is just an integration variable that does not depend on t. This is because the partial derivative and the derivative are equivalent in this case, as seen in the Newton Quotient. As long as the derivative can be interchanged with the integral, it is valid to change d/dt to ∂/∂t.
  • #1
AntiStrange
20
1
How do I know when it is ok to change a derivative into a partial derivative? For example there is something like:
(d/dt)∫f(x,t)dx
then they simplify it to:
∫[∂f(x,t)/∂t]dx
I mean, it sort of makes sense to me, because the integral will be a function of t only so the (d/dt) is fine, but when you bring it inside the integral f(x,t) is a function of both t and x, so a partial is needed... but why is it ok to do this?
 
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  • #2
When x is just an integration variable which does not depend on t, it is definitely allowed. In that case, namely,
∂f(x,t)/∂t = df(x,t)/dt.
 
  • #3
Several things
-worry more about if the derivative can be interchanged with the integral to star
-think about it the other way round
if
(∂/∂t)∫f(x,t)dx=∫[∂f(x,t)/∂t]dx
does not bother you we can see changing d/dt to ∂/∂t is valid as x is a dummy variable
-form the Newton Quotient to see this
 

1. What is the difference between a derivative and a partial derivative?

A derivative is a measure of how a single variable changes with respect to another variable. A partial derivative, on the other hand, is a measure of how a function changes with respect to one of its many variables, while holding the other variables constant.

2. Why do we need to change a derivative into a partial derivative?

In many real-world situations, functions have multiple variables that can affect their output. By taking partial derivatives, we can understand how each individual variable impacts the overall behavior of the function.

3. How do you change a derivative into a partial derivative?

To change a derivative into a partial derivative, we simply take the derivative of the function with respect to the desired variable, while treating all other variables as constants. This means that we only consider the impact of the desired variable on the function's output.

4. Is there a specific notation for partial derivatives?

Yes, there is a specific notation for partial derivatives. Instead of using the standard "d/dx" notation for derivatives, we use the symbol "∂" to represent partial derivatives. For example, the partial derivative of a function f(x,y) with respect to x would be written as ∂f/∂x.

5. What are some real-world applications of partial derivatives?

Partial derivatives are used in various fields such as physics, economics, and engineering. They can be used to analyze how a system will behave under different conditions, optimize functions with multiple variables, and understand the relationships between different variables in a system.

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