Mixing
What is the difference between exact and partial differentiation?
$begingroup$
My understanding of partial $left( frac{partial}{partial} right)$ and total
$left( frac{d}{d} right)$ differentiation/derivative is that assuming $f(x_1, x_2, ...,x_n )$ where $x_i$s are not necessarily independent:
$$frac{d f}{ dx_i}=sum^n_1 left(frac{partial f}{partial x_j}frac{d x_j}{dx_i} right)$$
Where $frac{partial f}{partial x_i}$ is the symbolic derivative of the equation $f(x_1, x_2, ...,x_n )$ assuming all $x_j$s except $x_i$ are constants. Of course when $x_i$s are independent:
$$frac{partial f}{partial x_i}=frac{d f}{ dx_i}$$
But in thermodynamics I see that they have this exact differential
$$left(frac{partial f}{partial x_i} right)_{x_j}$$
which to me looks exactly the same as partial differential. For example see these videos of thermodynamic lectures from MIT. I find this concept/notation redundant and confusing. I would appreciate if you could explain the difference between partial and exact differentials and give me a tangible example when they are not the same.
P.S.1. This post also approves my point:
In fact, the constancy of the other variables is implicit in the partial differential notation (∂/∂x) but it is customary to write the variables that are constant under the derivative when discussing thermodynamics, just to keep track of what other variables we were considering in that particular case.
Which if true, is an awful idea. Partial differential equations are already long and confusing enough without these redundant notations. Why on earth should we make it even more difficult?
derivatives
asked Feb 27 '18 at 16:11
FoadFoad
1867
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
My understanding of partial $left( frac{partial}{partial} right)$ and total
$left( frac{d}{d} right)$ differentiation/derivative is that assuming $f(x_1, x_2, ...,x_n )$ where $x_i$s are not necessarily independent:
$$frac{d f}{ dx_i}=sum^n_1 left(frac{partial f}{partial x_j}frac{d x_j}{dx_i} right)$$
Where $frac{partial f}{partial x_i}$ is the symbolic derivative of the equation $f(x_1, x_2, ...,x_n )$ assuming all $x_j$s except $x_i$ are constants. Of course when $x_i$s are independent:
$$frac{partial f}{partial x_i}=frac{d f}{ dx_i}$$
But in thermodynamics I see that they have this exact differential
$$left(frac{partial f}{partial x_i} right)_{x_j}$$
which to me looks exactly the same as partial differential. For example see these videos of thermodynamic lectures from MIT. I find this concept/notation redundant and confusing. I would appreciate if you could explain the difference between partial and exact differentials and give me a tangible example when they are not the same.
P.S.1. This post also approves my point:
In fact, the constancy of the other variables is implicit in the partial differential notation (∂/∂x) but it is customary to write the variables that are constant under the derivative when discussing thermodynamics, just to keep track of what other variables we were considering in that particular case.
Which if true, is an awful idea. Partial differential equations are already long and confusing enough without these redundant notations. Why on earth should we make it even more difficult?
derivatives
asked Feb 27 '18 at 16:11
FoadFoad
1867
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
My understanding of partial $left( frac{partial}{partial} right)$ and total
$left( frac{d}{d} right)$ differentiation/derivative is that assuming $f(x_1, x_2, ...,x_n )$ where $x_i$s are not necessarily independent:
$$frac{d f}{ dx_i}=sum^n_1 left(frac{partial f}{partial x_j}frac{d x_j}{dx_i} right)$$
Where $frac{partial f}{partial x_i}$ is the symbolic derivative of the equation $f(x_1, x_2, ...,x_n )$ assuming all $x_j$s except $x_i$ are constants. Of course when $x_i$s are independent:
$$frac{partial f}{partial x_i}=frac{d f}{ dx_i}$$
But in thermodynamics I see that they have this exact differential
$$left(frac{partial f}{partial x_i} right)_{x_j}$$
which to me looks exactly the same as partial differential. For example see these videos of thermodynamic lectures from MIT. I find this concept/notation redundant and confusing. I would appreciate if you could explain the difference between partial and exact differentials and give me a tangible example when they are not the same.
P.S.1. This post also approves my point:
In fact, the constancy of the other variables is implicit in the partial differential notation (∂/∂x) but it is customary to write the variables that are constant under the derivative when discussing thermodynamics, just to keep track of what other variables we were considering in that particular case.
Which if true, is an awful idea. Partial differential equations are already long and confusing enough without these redundant notations. Why on earth should we make it even more difficult?
derivatives
asked Feb 27 '18 at 16:11
FoadFoad
1867
$endgroup$
My understanding of partial $left( frac{partial}{partial} right)$ and total
$left( frac{d}{d} right)$ differentiation/derivative is that assuming $f(x_1, x_2, ...,x_n )$ where $x_i$s are not necessarily independent:
$$frac{d f}{ dx_i}=sum^n_1 left(frac{partial f}{partial x_j}frac{d x_j}{dx_i} right)$$
Where $frac{partial f}{partial x_i}$ is the symbolic derivative of the equation $f(x_1, x_2, ...,x_n )$ assuming all $x_j$s except $x_i$ are constants. Of course when $x_i$s are independent:
$$frac{partial f}{partial x_i}=frac{d f}{ dx_i}$$
But in thermodynamics I see that they have this exact differential
$$left(frac{partial f}{partial x_i} right)_{x_j}$$
which to me looks exactly the same as partial differential. For example see these videos of thermodynamic lectures from MIT. I find this concept/notation redundant and confusing. I would appreciate if you could explain the difference between partial and exact differentials and give me a tangible example when they are not the same.
P.S.1. This post also approves my point:
In fact, the constancy of the other variables is implicit in the partial differential notation (∂/∂x) but it is customary to write the variables that are constant under the derivative when discussing thermodynamics, just to keep track of what other variables we were considering in that particular case.
Which if true, is an awful idea. Partial differential equations are already long and confusing enough without these redundant notations. Why on earth should we make it even more difficult?
derivatives
derivatives
asked Feb 27 '18 at 16:11
FoadFoad
1867
asked Feb 27 '18 at 16:11
FoadFoad
1867
edited Mar 1 '18 at 15:07
Foad
asked Feb 27 '18 at 16:11
FoadFoad
1867
asked Feb 27 '18 at 16:11
FoadFoad
1867
asked Feb 27 '18 at 16:11
FoadFoad
1867
1867
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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$begingroup$
If you consider $f$ simply as a function of $n$ variables, there is no such definition of "exact" differentiation. The fact is that, sometimes, the variables depend on each other on "external" variables. Let me clarify with an example. Consider a functions $f:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}$ and $u:mathbb{R}to mathbb{R}$. $f$ has two partial derivatives $f_x$ and $f_y$. Suppose that we have a composition
$$ Big( fcirc (cdot,u(cdot))Big)(z) = f(z,u(z)). $$
We can still talk about partial derivatives for $f$, and these are
$$ f_x(z,u(z)) quad text{and} quad f_y(z,u(z)). $$
We talk about "total derivative" for $f$ when we differentiate with respect to the parameter to which all the variables depend, namely $z$. This is
$$ (f(z,u(z)))' = f_x(z,u(z))+f_y(z,u(z))u'(z). $$
A nice example where both concepts come in action is Euler-Lagrange equation.
The connection with your linked page (differentiable forms) is the following. Suppose you have a function $F:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}^2$. For all $(x,y)in mathbb{R}^2$, $F$ is a form of the dual of $mathbb{R}^2$. The theory developed to understand whether this is also a gradient of a function $f:mathbb{R}^2to mathbb{R}$ requires you to perform integration over curves on the space $mathbb{R}^2$. Curves are functions $(x(t),y(t))in mathbb{R}^2$, $tin [t_0,t_1]$. If the potential $f$ exists, it's partial derivatives are
$$ f_x = F_1 quad f_y = F_2. $$
On the other side, the derivative of $f$ along a curve $(x(t),y(t))$ is
$$ f(x(t),y(t))' = f_x(x(t),y(t))x'(t)+f_y(x(t),y(t))y'(t) = F(x(t),y(t))cdot (x'(t),y'(t)). $$
Therefore you can define the total derivative of $f$ to be
$$ df = f_xdx + f_ydy, $$
where $dx$ and $dy$ must be understood as "small" variation of space variables "in time".
answered Mar 1 '18 at 13:20
Tommaso SeneciTommaso Seneci
1,03938
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thanks for the reply. But I do not understand how this answers my question "the difference between exact and partial differential". I already know what total differential is and it is not the same thing as exact differential. Please see this wikipedia page.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:37
$begingroup$
Well, you were asking for the difference, and in the first part, I showed you that they are not the same. Your reference links to differential forms and I talked about that in the second part. Note that in physics and engineering there is some confusion between total and partial, because sometimes they introduce the concept of time and go from one to the other "carelessly".
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 13:46
$begingroup$
I'm not sure but in the first part you are explaining the difference between total and partial differential. I have no issues or confusions between these two. The "exact" differential is the one I do not understand. If I may clarify the question is not "the difference between total and partial differential" but "the difference between exact and partial differential".
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:51
$begingroup$
see this video for example.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:54
$begingroup$
I think you are confusing things. A form is exact, or it is an exact differential, when it is total derivative of a given function. Therefore, there is not such thing as exact derivate in mathematics. Maybe your question fits more a forum on physics!
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 14:00
|
show 4 more comments
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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oldest
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$begingroup$
If you consider $f$ simply as a function of $n$ variables, there is no such definition of "exact" differentiation. The fact is that, sometimes, the variables depend on each other on "external" variables. Let me clarify with an example. Consider a functions $f:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}$ and $u:mathbb{R}to mathbb{R}$. $f$ has two partial derivatives $f_x$ and $f_y$. Suppose that we have a composition
$$ Big( fcirc (cdot,u(cdot))Big)(z) = f(z,u(z)). $$
We can still talk about partial derivatives for $f$, and these are
$$ f_x(z,u(z)) quad text{and} quad f_y(z,u(z)). $$
We talk about "total derivative" for $f$ when we differentiate with respect to the parameter to which all the variables depend, namely $z$. This is
$$ (f(z,u(z)))' = f_x(z,u(z))+f_y(z,u(z))u'(z). $$
A nice example where both concepts come in action is Euler-Lagrange equation.
The connection with your linked page (differentiable forms) is the following. Suppose you have a function $F:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}^2$. For all $(x,y)in mathbb{R}^2$, $F$ is a form of the dual of $mathbb{R}^2$. The theory developed to understand whether this is also a gradient of a function $f:mathbb{R}^2to mathbb{R}$ requires you to perform integration over curves on the space $mathbb{R}^2$. Curves are functions $(x(t),y(t))in mathbb{R}^2$, $tin [t_0,t_1]$. If the potential $f$ exists, it's partial derivatives are
$$ f_x = F_1 quad f_y = F_2. $$
On the other side, the derivative of $f$ along a curve $(x(t),y(t))$ is
$$ f(x(t),y(t))' = f_x(x(t),y(t))x'(t)+f_y(x(t),y(t))y'(t) = F(x(t),y(t))cdot (x'(t),y'(t)). $$
Therefore you can define the total derivative of $f$ to be
$$ df = f_xdx + f_ydy, $$
where $dx$ and $dy$ must be understood as "small" variation of space variables "in time".
answered Mar 1 '18 at 13:20
Tommaso SeneciTommaso Seneci
1,03938
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thanks for the reply. But I do not understand how this answers my question "the difference between exact and partial differential". I already know what total differential is and it is not the same thing as exact differential. Please see this wikipedia page.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:37
$begingroup$
Well, you were asking for the difference, and in the first part, I showed you that they are not the same. Your reference links to differential forms and I talked about that in the second part. Note that in physics and engineering there is some confusion between total and partial, because sometimes they introduce the concept of time and go from one to the other "carelessly".
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 13:46
$begingroup$
I'm not sure but in the first part you are explaining the difference between total and partial differential. I have no issues or confusions between these two. The "exact" differential is the one I do not understand. If I may clarify the question is not "the difference between total and partial differential" but "the difference between exact and partial differential".
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:51
$begingroup$
see this video for example.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:54
$begingroup$
I think you are confusing things. A form is exact, or it is an exact differential, when it is total derivative of a given function. Therefore, there is not such thing as exact derivate in mathematics. Maybe your question fits more a forum on physics!
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 14:00
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
If you consider $f$ simply as a function of $n$ variables, there is no such definition of "exact" differentiation. The fact is that, sometimes, the variables depend on each other on "external" variables. Let me clarify with an example. Consider a functions $f:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}$ and $u:mathbb{R}to mathbb{R}$. $f$ has two partial derivatives $f_x$ and $f_y$. Suppose that we have a composition
$$ Big( fcirc (cdot,u(cdot))Big)(z) = f(z,u(z)). $$
We can still talk about partial derivatives for $f$, and these are
$$ f_x(z,u(z)) quad text{and} quad f_y(z,u(z)). $$
We talk about "total derivative" for $f$ when we differentiate with respect to the parameter to which all the variables depend, namely $z$. This is
$$ (f(z,u(z)))' = f_x(z,u(z))+f_y(z,u(z))u'(z). $$
A nice example where both concepts come in action is Euler-Lagrange equation.
The connection with your linked page (differentiable forms) is the following. Suppose you have a function $F:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}^2$. For all $(x,y)in mathbb{R}^2$, $F$ is a form of the dual of $mathbb{R}^2$. The theory developed to understand whether this is also a gradient of a function $f:mathbb{R}^2to mathbb{R}$ requires you to perform integration over curves on the space $mathbb{R}^2$. Curves are functions $(x(t),y(t))in mathbb{R}^2$, $tin [t_0,t_1]$. If the potential $f$ exists, it's partial derivatives are
$$ f_x = F_1 quad f_y = F_2. $$
On the other side, the derivative of $f$ along a curve $(x(t),y(t))$ is
$$ f(x(t),y(t))' = f_x(x(t),y(t))x'(t)+f_y(x(t),y(t))y'(t) = F(x(t),y(t))cdot (x'(t),y'(t)). $$
Therefore you can define the total derivative of $f$ to be
$$ df = f_xdx + f_ydy, $$
where $dx$ and $dy$ must be understood as "small" variation of space variables "in time".
answered Mar 1 '18 at 13:20
Tommaso SeneciTommaso Seneci
1,03938
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thanks for the reply. But I do not understand how this answers my question "the difference between exact and partial differential". I already know what total differential is and it is not the same thing as exact differential. Please see this wikipedia page.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:37
$begingroup$
Well, you were asking for the difference, and in the first part, I showed you that they are not the same. Your reference links to differential forms and I talked about that in the second part. Note that in physics and engineering there is some confusion between total and partial, because sometimes they introduce the concept of time and go from one to the other "carelessly".
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 13:46
$begingroup$
I'm not sure but in the first part you are explaining the difference between total and partial differential. I have no issues or confusions between these two. The "exact" differential is the one I do not understand. If I may clarify the question is not "the difference between total and partial differential" but "the difference between exact and partial differential".
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:51
$begingroup$
see this video for example.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:54
$begingroup$
I think you are confusing things. A form is exact, or it is an exact differential, when it is total derivative of a given function. Therefore, there is not such thing as exact derivate in mathematics. Maybe your question fits more a forum on physics!
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 14:00
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
If you consider $f$ simply as a function of $n$ variables, there is no such definition of "exact" differentiation. The fact is that, sometimes, the variables depend on each other on "external" variables. Let me clarify with an example. Consider a functions $f:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}$ and $u:mathbb{R}to mathbb{R}$. $f$ has two partial derivatives $f_x$ and $f_y$. Suppose that we have a composition
$$ Big( fcirc (cdot,u(cdot))Big)(z) = f(z,u(z)). $$
We can still talk about partial derivatives for $f$, and these are
$$ f_x(z,u(z)) quad text{and} quad f_y(z,u(z)). $$
We talk about "total derivative" for $f$ when we differentiate with respect to the parameter to which all the variables depend, namely $z$. This is
$$ (f(z,u(z)))' = f_x(z,u(z))+f_y(z,u(z))u'(z). $$
A nice example where both concepts come in action is Euler-Lagrange equation.
The connection with your linked page (differentiable forms) is the following. Suppose you have a function $F:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}^2$. For all $(x,y)in mathbb{R}^2$, $F$ is a form of the dual of $mathbb{R}^2$. The theory developed to understand whether this is also a gradient of a function $f:mathbb{R}^2to mathbb{R}$ requires you to perform integration over curves on the space $mathbb{R}^2$. Curves are functions $(x(t),y(t))in mathbb{R}^2$, $tin [t_0,t_1]$. If the potential $f$ exists, it's partial derivatives are
$$ f_x = F_1 quad f_y = F_2. $$
On the other side, the derivative of $f$ along a curve $(x(t),y(t))$ is
$$ f(x(t),y(t))' = f_x(x(t),y(t))x'(t)+f_y(x(t),y(t))y'(t) = F(x(t),y(t))cdot (x'(t),y'(t)). $$
Therefore you can define the total derivative of $f$ to be
$$ df = f_xdx + f_ydy, $$
where $dx$ and $dy$ must be understood as "small" variation of space variables "in time".
answered Mar 1 '18 at 13:20
Tommaso SeneciTommaso Seneci
1,03938
$endgroup$
If you consider $f$ simply as a function of $n$ variables, there is no such definition of "exact" differentiation. The fact is that, sometimes, the variables depend on each other on "external" variables. Let me clarify with an example. Consider a functions $f:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}$ and $u:mathbb{R}to mathbb{R}$. $f$ has two partial derivatives $f_x$ and $f_y$. Suppose that we have a composition
$$ Big( fcirc (cdot,u(cdot))Big)(z) = f(z,u(z)). $$
We can still talk about partial derivatives for $f$, and these are
$$ f_x(z,u(z)) quad text{and} quad f_y(z,u(z)). $$
We talk about "total derivative" for $f$ when we differentiate with respect to the parameter to which all the variables depend, namely $z$. This is
$$ (f(z,u(z)))' = f_x(z,u(z))+f_y(z,u(z))u'(z). $$
A nice example where both concepts come in action is Euler-Lagrange equation.
The connection with your linked page (differentiable forms) is the following. Suppose you have a function $F:mathbb{R}^2tomathbb{R}^2$. For all $(x,y)in mathbb{R}^2$, $F$ is a form of the dual of $mathbb{R}^2$. The theory developed to understand whether this is also a gradient of a function $f:mathbb{R}^2to mathbb{R}$ requires you to perform integration over curves on the space $mathbb{R}^2$. Curves are functions $(x(t),y(t))in mathbb{R}^2$, $tin [t_0,t_1]$. If the potential $f$ exists, it's partial derivatives are
$$ f_x = F_1 quad f_y = F_2. $$
On the other side, the derivative of $f$ along a curve $(x(t),y(t))$ is
$$ f(x(t),y(t))' = f_x(x(t),y(t))x'(t)+f_y(x(t),y(t))y'(t) = F(x(t),y(t))cdot (x'(t),y'(t)). $$
Therefore you can define the total derivative of $f$ to be
$$ df = f_xdx + f_ydy, $$
where $dx$ and $dy$ must be understood as "small" variation of space variables "in time".
answered Mar 1 '18 at 13:20
Tommaso SeneciTommaso Seneci
1,03938
answered Mar 1 '18 at 13:20
Tommaso SeneciTommaso Seneci
1,03938
answered Mar 1 '18 at 13:20
Tommaso SeneciTommaso Seneci
1,03938
answered Mar 1 '18 at 13:20
Tommaso SeneciTommaso Seneci
1,03938
1,03938
$begingroup$
Thanks for the reply. But I do not understand how this answers my question "the difference between exact and partial differential". I already know what total differential is and it is not the same thing as exact differential. Please see this wikipedia page.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:37
$begingroup$
Well, you were asking for the difference, and in the first part, I showed you that they are not the same. Your reference links to differential forms and I talked about that in the second part. Note that in physics and engineering there is some confusion between total and partial, because sometimes they introduce the concept of time and go from one to the other "carelessly".
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 13:46
$begingroup$
I'm not sure but in the first part you are explaining the difference between total and partial differential. I have no issues or confusions between these two. The "exact" differential is the one I do not understand. If I may clarify the question is not "the difference between total and partial differential" but "the difference between exact and partial differential".
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:51
$begingroup$
see this video for example.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:54
$begingroup$
I think you are confusing things. A form is exact, or it is an exact differential, when it is total derivative of a given function. Therefore, there is not such thing as exact derivate in mathematics. Maybe your question fits more a forum on physics!
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 14:00
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
Thanks for the reply. But I do not understand how this answers my question "the difference between exact and partial differential". I already know what total differential is and it is not the same thing as exact differential. Please see this wikipedia page.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:37
$begingroup$
Well, you were asking for the difference, and in the first part, I showed you that they are not the same. Your reference links to differential forms and I talked about that in the second part. Note that in physics and engineering there is some confusion between total and partial, because sometimes they introduce the concept of time and go from one to the other "carelessly".
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 13:46
$begingroup$
I'm not sure but in the first part you are explaining the difference between total and partial differential. I have no issues or confusions between these two. The "exact" differential is the one I do not understand. If I may clarify the question is not "the difference between total and partial differential" but "the difference between exact and partial differential".
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:51
$begingroup$
see this video for example.
$endgroup$
– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:54
$begingroup$
I think you are confusing things. A form is exact, or it is an exact differential, when it is total derivative of a given function. Therefore, there is not such thing as exact derivate in mathematics. Maybe your question fits more a forum on physics!
$endgroup$
– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 14:00
$begingroup$
Thanks for the reply. But I do not understand how this answers my question "the difference between exact and partial differential". I already know what total differential is and it is not the same thing as exact differential. Please see this wikipedia page.
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– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:37
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Thanks for the reply. But I do not understand how this answers my question "the difference between exact and partial differential". I already know what total differential is and it is not the same thing as exact differential. Please see this wikipedia page.
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– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:37
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Well, you were asking for the difference, and in the first part, I showed you that they are not the same. Your reference links to differential forms and I talked about that in the second part. Note that in physics and engineering there is some confusion between total and partial, because sometimes they introduce the concept of time and go from one to the other "carelessly".
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– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 13:46
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Well, you were asking for the difference, and in the first part, I showed you that they are not the same. Your reference links to differential forms and I talked about that in the second part. Note that in physics and engineering there is some confusion between total and partial, because sometimes they introduce the concept of time and go from one to the other "carelessly".
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– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 13:46
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I'm not sure but in the first part you are explaining the difference between total and partial differential. I have no issues or confusions between these two. The "exact" differential is the one I do not understand. If I may clarify the question is not "the difference between total and partial differential" but "the difference between exact and partial differential".
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– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:51
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I'm not sure but in the first part you are explaining the difference between total and partial differential. I have no issues or confusions between these two. The "exact" differential is the one I do not understand. If I may clarify the question is not "the difference between total and partial differential" but "the difference between exact and partial differential".
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– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:51
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see this video for example.
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– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:54
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see this video for example.
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– Foad
Mar 1 '18 at 13:54
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I think you are confusing things. A form is exact, or it is an exact differential, when it is total derivative of a given function. Therefore, there is not such thing as exact derivate in mathematics. Maybe your question fits more a forum on physics!
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– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 14:00
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I think you are confusing things. A form is exact, or it is an exact differential, when it is total derivative of a given function. Therefore, there is not such thing as exact derivate in mathematics. Maybe your question fits more a forum on physics!
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– Tommaso Seneci
Mar 1 '18 at 14:00
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