Understanding Symbols in Physics Equations: What Do They Mean?

[BrainMan]

Homework Statement

I have been reading a lot about physics and equation that look like the photo I attached. What do the brackets and the EXP mean?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[matineesuxxx]

I cannot see the attached image, however, if you mean something like this: $\exp (x)$ that is just the exponential function, so $\exp(x) = e^x$

It's just a more convenient way of representing the function when its arguments start to get complicated

 

[HallsofIvy]

The brackets are just that- a way of indicating a separate calculation, no different from parentheses.

 

[BrainMan]

I cannot see the attached image, however, if you mean something like this: $\exp (x)$ that is just the exponential function, so $\exp(x) = e^x$

It's just a more convenient way of representing the function when its arguments start to get complicated

The brackets are just that- a way of indicating a separate calculation, no different from parentheses.

Here is a better picture

If someone could write it without EXP that would be great so that I know what you guys are talking about.

 

[jedishrfu]

The exp() notation is useful though if you are writing an expression in some programming languages such as Java where

double x = 3.2;
double y = Math.exp(x);       // refers to the e^x math function

For more general exponentiation then:

double x =3.2;
double y = 4.3;
double z = Math.pow(x,y);     // for x^y math function

 

[AlephZero]

$I = C_1 + C_2 G - C_3(e^{\frac {V} {C_4T_{cc}}} - 1) - C_5(e^{\frac {V} {C_6T_{cc}}} - 1) - \frac {V} {C_7T_{cc}}$

 

[BrainMan]

$I = C_1 + C_2 G - C_3(e^{\frac {V} {C_4T_{cc}}} - 1) - C_5(e^{\frac {V} {C_6T_{cc}}} - 1) - \frac {V} {C_7T_{cc}}$

Where are you getting the e? Is that euler's number?

 

[berkeman]

Where are you getting the e? Is that euler's number?

It's the Natural Exponential Function: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_function