Rearranging Equation: C(x,t) for t

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around rearranging the equation C(x,t) = Cserfc(x/2√(Dt)) to isolate the variable t. Participants are exploring the implications of this equation, which is related to dopant diffusion in a physical context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the initial steps to rearranging the equation, including the use of the complementary error function (erfc) and its inverse. There are questions about the nature of C(x,t) and whether it is defined as Cserfc(x/2√(Dt)). Some participants express uncertainty about how to handle the square root and the presence of t within it.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the problem, with some participants providing potential approaches to isolate t. However, there is no explicit consensus on the method, and the discussion reflects a mix of interpretations and attempts to clarify the original question.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity of isolating t when it appears on both sides of the equation, which raises questions about the specific form of C(x,t) and the assumptions involved in the problem setup.

SMOF
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Hello.

I am hoping someone can help me rearrange the following equation for t.

I'm getting better at these, but this one stumps me.

C(x,t) = Cserfc(x/2√(Dt))

I was starting with C(x,t)/Cs = erfc(x/2√(Dt))

But from here I am not sure how to deal with the square root and the t buried in the square root.

Thanks.

Seán
 
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If I remember right, this equation corresponds to Dopant diffusion

C(x,t) = Cs*erfc(x/2√Dt)

C(x,t)/Cs = erfc(x/2√Dt)

erfc^-1*(C(x,t)/Cs) = erfc^-1(erfc(x/2√Dt))

(2*erfc^-1*(C(x,t)/Cs))/x = 1/√Dt

Square both sides,

1/t = D*((2*erfc^-1*(C(x,t)/Cs))/x)^2
 
SMOF said:
Hello.

I am hoping someone can help me rearrange the following equation for t.

I'm getting better at these, but this one stumps me.

C(x,t) = Cserfc(x/2√(Dt))

I was starting with C(x,t)/Cs = erfc(x/2√(Dt))

But from here I am not sure how to deal with the square root and the t buried in the square root.

Thanks.

Seán

It is not clear what you are asking. Is Cserfc(x/2√(Dt)) the _definition_ of the object C(x,t)? If so, you presumably have an equation of the form Cserfc(x/2√(Dt)) = v (where v is some value) and you want to solve this for t. You would have t on only one side of this equation. It wold be farily easy to solve: just find a value of z giving erfc(z) = v/Cs (which can be found numerically if v and C_s are known numbers); then solve z = x/2√(Dt) for t. However, if C(x,t) is some other function of x and t that you want to equate to Cserfc(x/2√(Dt)) , then you would have t on both sides of your equation, and without knowing more about the function C(x,t) we cannot say very much.

RGV
 
SHScanuck said:
If I remember right, this equation corresponds to Dopant diffusion

C(x,t) = Cs*erfc(x/2√Dt)

C(x,t)/Cs = erfc(x/2√Dt)

erfc^-1*(C(x,t)/Cs) = erfc^-1(erfc(x/2√Dt))

(2*erfc^-1*(C(x,t)/Cs))/x = 1/√Dt

Square both sides,

1/t = D*((2*erfc^-1*(C(x,t)/Cs))/x)^2

It does, yea ...and thanks for the work through. I will go over it a few times until I have it in my head.

Again, many thanks.

Seán
 
If C(x,t) is a function with t in it this will NOT isolate t, as you still have t on both sides of the equation. That is why I asked you in my first post EXACTLY what was your question. You did not answer.

RGV
 
Ray Vickson said:
You did not answer.

I am sorry if this offended you.

I did not answer for a number of reasons.

1. I did not fully understand what you were asking, and
2. Someone else posted a reply which seemed to give me the answer.


The (x,t) part seem to be largely ignored in sample questions. Maybe I should have just written my question as C = ...

Anyway, sorry I did not respond to your question directly, and thank you for taking the time to reply.

Seán
 
I am not offended. I was trying to help you better understand your problem, and to do that I posed a question whose answer would, I think, be helpful to you.

RGV
 
Hello.

Well, I will try to understand your question better, and see where that takes me :)

Seán
 
Let me give you an example. Isolate "t" in the following two problems.
(1) erfc(x/sqrt(t))= 0.25 (an "easy" problem); or
(2) erfc(x/sqrt(t)) = .5*sin(x^3 + 3t^2 + t) (a really, really difficult problem).

RGV
 

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