# Simple ODE/PDE clarification

1. Nov 17, 2013

### joshmccraney

hey pf!

here's the question: $$u \frac{ \partial u}{ \partial x} = \rho \frac{ d P}{ d x}$$ may i generally state $$\rho P+1/2 u^2 = const.$$

the book does, and it seems the $dx$ cancels the $\partial x$ on both sides and we simply integrate through. this seems to be mathematically untrue. can someone confirm/reject this? also, what conditions would be necessary to have the above true (if it is indeed untrue generally)?

2. Nov 17, 2013

### HallsofIvy

I doubt very much that you book says exactly that! I suspect it says instead that
$\rho P- (1/2)u^2= const$. (Notice the negative.)

The partial derivative is simply the ordinary derivative while treating other variables as if they were constants. What ever the other variable(s) in u might be, since they do not appear in the equation, this would be solved exactly as if it were
$$u\dfrac{du}{dx}= \rho\dfrac{dP}{dx}$$.

Now, you can treat $du/dx$ and $dP/dx$ as if they were ratios of differentials as we do in Ordinary Caculus.

3. Nov 18, 2013

### joshmccraney

ahh yes, my mistake. the negative is definitely there. sorry. but thanks for answering the crux of the question