# D and delta

1. ### cheez

28
How come d becomes (delta)? after integration? I thought d and delta is the same thing. What's the difference between them?

For example,
dA = - PdV

After intergration, it becomes
(delta)A = -(integral)PdV

I can't type the symbols.

thx!

2. ### Dick

25,852
If the integration is going say, from x0 to x1, then (delta)A is an abbreviation for A(x1)-A(x0). (integral)dA=A but applying the limits I get (delta)A. Not at all the same thing as the dA symbol.

3. ### turdferguson

312
Delta just means "change in" and is used for just plain change or average change, nothing instantaneous or infintesimal. With calculus, most of the deltas turn into d's, but not all as shown here

4. ### zmike

103
I am having the same problem, if I take the entropy for example

We have (delta - the triangle)S=q/t
then we have dS=dq/T
and then there's partial derivatives

what is the difference between them?

If I integrate say the partial derivative of dq = q? or would that equal (delta)q?

Thank you