How can you determine the derivative or integral of dx in a given problem?

[zmike]

I am in the middle of a problem and I have to take the integral of "dx" This is very confusing, I would guess x or 1 but neither really makes sense to me. How would you take the derivative of something to form dx?, similarly how would you take the derivative of dx^2.

Aside from knowing that dx meaning a very small bit of something, I have no idea how one can take the derv. or integ. or it. It just doesn't make any sense.

Please Help

Thanks

 

[snipez90]

dx = 1*dx... this can easily be integrated.

 

[zmike]

explain how to take the dervative of dx with respect to x

 

[Dick]

explain how to take the dervative of dx with respect to x

If you mean d(dx)/dx, that doesn't make any sense. If you mean dx/dx that's just d/dx(x). The derivative of the function f(x)=x.

 

[yyat]

Maybe you could give a little more context. The symbol "dx" is used in various different places in mathematics.
For example, if you consider dx as a 1-form on the real line, then the indefinite integral is x+c for any c. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exterior_derivative"