Just a quick question about partial derivatives

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of differentiation under the integral sign, specifically in the context of partial derivatives and integrals. Participants explore the conditions under which one can interchange differentiation and integration, referencing mathematical rules and examples.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand the justification for moving the derivative inside the integral, questioning the underlying rules. Other participants provide examples and discuss the application of the Leibniz Integral Rule, while also considering specific cases where the rule applies.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the topic, providing examples and questioning the general applicability of the rules discussed. Some guidance has been offered regarding the conditions under which differentiation under the integral sign is valid, but there is no explicit consensus on the broader implications.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of specific conditions regarding the limits of integration and their dependence on variables, which may affect the application of the discussed rules.

vorcil
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Not a homework question, but It will help me none the less,

In my book it says

[tex]\frac{d}{dt} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} |\Psi(x,t)|^2 dx[/tex]

is equivalent to

[tex]\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\partial}{\partial t}|\Psi(x,t)|^2 dx[/tex]

I understand how It becomes a partial derivative, since I'm differentiating psi with respect to x and t

But what I don't understand Is how you can just move [tex]\frac{d}{dt}[/tex]
into an integral, why can you do that? I don't understand the rules behind it,

for example
(i'm just making this up)
[tex]\frac{d}{dt} \int_0^2 2xt dx[/tex]
I'm first going to integrate the inside function then differentiate it with respect to t
before I try the other way of moving dt inside the integral

[tex]\int_0^2 2xt dx = \left \frac{2x^2t}{2} \right|_0^2[/tex]
the equation becomes
[tex]\left x^2t\right|_0^2[/tex]
putting in 2, I get 2^2 *t
= 4t
differentiating that,
[tex]\frac{d}{dt} 4t = 4[/tex]

now i'll try the other way by moving in the partial derivative

[tex]\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\partial}{\partial t} 2xt dx[/tex]
I've only done one math paper before, and 5 physics papers,
so I don't know how to solve partial derivatives in the conventional sense,
but what I have picked up is, that a physicists first line of attack to any partial derivative, is separation of variables,
so uh, I'm not too sure how i do it in this context, since I can't separate x,t the way I can separate [tex]\Psi , \textrm{ which I can rewrite as } \psi(x)\phi(x)[/tex]
 
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[tex]\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\partial}{\partial t} 2xt dx, = 2x[/tex]

that's from differentiating 2xt, treating x as a constant, d/dt 2t = 2, so the t disappears

[tex]\int_0^2 2x dx = \int_0^2 \frac{2x^2}{2} dx = \left x^2\right|_0^2[/tex]

so 2^2 = 4

so I've just proved for the equation 2xy

[tex]\frac{d}{dy} \int_a^b F(x,y) dx \textrm{ is equivalent to } \int_a^b \frac{\partial}{\partial y} F(x,y) dx[/tex]

meh

Is this true for all equations?
 
vorcil said:
But what I don't understand Is how you can just move [tex]\frac{d}{dt}[/tex]
into an integral, why can you do that? I don't understand the rules behind it,
This is an application of the general concept of "differentiation under the integral sign" or the Leibiz Integral Rule. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LeibnizIntegralRule.html.
 
vorcil said:
[tex]\frac{d}{dy} \int_a^b F(x,y) dx \textrm{ is equivalent to } \int_a^b \frac{\partial}{\partial y} F(x,y) dx[/tex]

meh

Is this true for all equations?

If a and b are constants, yes. This is essentially the fundamental theorem of calculus.

If either a or b is a function of y (or if both are a function of y) then the above is not true. You need to use the more generic form of the Liebniz Integral Rule to compute derivative.
 

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