spidey
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is this correct?
∫(dx²/dy²) dx = dx/dy
∫(dx²/dy²) dx = dx/dy
CompuChip said:What do you mean by (dx^2/dy^2) ?
Is it the second derivative of x with respect to y? Is it the first derivative of x with respect to y, squared? Is x a function of y (this is a bit unconventional notation, then)
spidey said:is this correct?
∫(dx²/dy²) dx = dx/dy
Tac-Tics said:Suppose \frac{dx}{dy} = x + 1.
Then \frac{d^2x}{dy^2} = 1
However, it is *not* true that \int 1 dx = x + 1. As your calc teacher will say it, \int 1 dx = x + C for some abuse of notation/constant C.
The problem with your statement is that the integral isn't the inverse of the derivative. Integrating a derivative of a function doesn't give you back the original function.
However, the reverse *is* true. Taking the derivative of an integral of a function DOES give you back the original function. This is the fundamental theorem of calculus: \frac{d}{dx}(\int f(x) dx) = f(x)
(Note that I sort of disregarded your use of the second derivative, since it is just an added layer of confusion to this particular problem).
CompuChip said:Actually,
∫ a dt = dx/dt =: v
by precisely that the theorem mentioned by Tac-Tics: a = d/dt( dx/dt ) so integrating it gives the velocity dx/dt.
You might be able to rework the integral over x to an integral over t, by a variable substitution:
∫ a(x(t)) dx = ∫ a(t) v(t) dt = ∫ v'(t) v(t) dt
(try to work that out for yourself).
I am thinking that partial integration may help you forward in this problem, but I'm not quite sure... play around a bit
CompuChip said:Actually,
∫ a dt = dx/dt =: v
by precisely that the theorem mentioned by Tac-Tics: a = d/dt( dx/dt ) so integrating it gives the velocity dx/dt.
You might be able to rework the integral over x to an integral over t, by a variable substitution:
∫ a(x(t)) dx = ∫ a(t) v(t) dt = ∫ v'(t) v(t) dt
(try to work that out for yourself).
I am thinking that partial integration may help you forward in this problem, but I'm not quite sure... play around a bit
Tac-Tics said:Maybe my explanation was a little much for what you're trying to do (though it is important to understand it eventually too).
If you integrate acceleration, the function you get is something that looks a LOT like the function for velocity. In fact, if you know the velocity at any point in time, you can reconstruct the function for velocity entirely.