Integration (Related to Physics)

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_Mayday_
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[SOLVED] Integration (Related to Physics)

This shouldn't take long :smile:

I have been given the general equation for a straight line which is:

[tex]y=mx+c[/tex]

Now I know that to determine the gradient I can use:

[tex]m=\frac{y}{x}[/tex]

Here is my question. Can I differentiate the initial equation given to get to [tex]m=\frac{y}{x}[/tex]

If so, which I am sure you can, then I seem to have come across a problem, though I think it is a problem in my differentiation.

[tex]y=mx=c[/tex]

[tex]\frac{dy}{dx}=mx^{-1}[/tex]

[tex]m=\frac{y}{x^{-1}}[/tex]

or

[tex]m=\frac{x}{y}[/tex]

This does not agree with my initial statement. Either my differentiation is incorrect or I need to touch up on my laws of indices, and if neither of these maybe I am deluded and this can't be done anyway :-p

_Mayday_
 
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(1) The slope is given by [itex]m = \Delta y / \Delta x[/itex], not [itex]m = y/x[/itex].
(2) The derivative (with respect to x) of mx + c is just m.
 
Doc Al said:
(1) The slope is given by [itex]m = \Delta y / \Delta x[/itex], not [itex]m = y/x[/itex].
(2) The derivative (with respect to x) of mx + c is just m.

Just noticed the thread title is integration not differentiation. Thank you for your help.