# Where did this equation come from?

1. Mar 16, 2007

### pivoxa15

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
This equation in the attached document appeared in thermal physics as a mathematical identity. I like to know mathematically how it is derived.

3. The attempt at a solution
I don't know where to start

#### Attached Files:

• ###### equation.GIF
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2. Mar 16, 2007

### christianjb

I can't open the gif file. Maybe others can.

3. Mar 16, 2007

### neutrino

A Mentor needs to approve it. They're probably catching up on their Z's, now.

4. Mar 17, 2007

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
That's just the chain rule for partial derivatives- the notation, being physics rather than mathematics is a little peculiar. The subscripts mean "this variable being treated as a constant.

5. Mar 17, 2007

### pivoxa15

You are right in that the notations are not clear.
I assume that the 4 variables x,y,z,w are dependent variables? But what are the independent variables? Do I need to use the Jacobian?

6. Mar 17, 2007

### nrqed

On the left side, x is a function of y and z, x(y,z).

Then imagine rewriting this as a function of y and w instead, where w is some function of *both* y and z. The only condition is that the resulting function x(y,w) does not depend on z explicitly (but it does implicitly through the dependence of w on z).

In other words, one goes from x(y,z) to x(y,w(y,z)).

Edit: when I say that w is a function of both y and z, I mean that it *may* be a function of both y and z. Of course, a special and trivial case is w=z. A slightly more general case is w is some function of z. In both cases, obviously the partial derivative of x with respect to y is the same no matter if x is expressed in terms of y,z or in terms of y,w. But if w is a function of both z and y, the formula needed is the one you quoted.

Patrick

Last edited: Mar 17, 2007
7. Mar 18, 2007

### pivoxa15

I see, how did you work it out?

They should state
if x(y,z)=x(y,w(y,z)) then the equation I showed.