Fw: Re: DifferenitalD vs CapitalDifferenitalD
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg88007] Fw: [mg87939] Re: DifferenitalD vs CapitalDifferenitalD
- From: "fizzy" <fizzycist at knology.net>
- Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:39:17 -0400 (EDT)
The way this started was an Instructor friend is teaching a course in Fields. He asked me why I use Mathematica rather then another product. I explained and told him I would show him some examples. One example I chose was to determine the Directional Derivative. Well, this involves differentials. I merely wanted to 'highlight' the differential visually. I wasnt trying to use DifferentialD as an operator. Of course, I have seen DifferentialD often enough in integrals. I was 'hoping' I could also use it this other way. for example, the element of path length , ds = Sqrt[dx^2 + dy^2 ] I would have preferred that I could type all the 'd's here as DifferentialD and, of, course solve for DifferentialDs if I knew the other differentials. But that was exactly what I couldnt do....In principle there is nothing 'wrong' with simply ds, dx, etc...I just wanted a different 'visual' on the screen. thanks...Jerry Blimbaum fizzy wrote: > After applying Jens correction, I was hoping to be able to use the > DifferentialD with x, etc. and then use the 'dx' , where 'd' here is > DifferentialD (just dont know how to add it here in the email), so it > would be a Symbol....but this didnt work....I realize I can use the > straight forward dx , etc. symbol but I want to highlight the > Differential....any way to 'fix' this?....when I type in DifferentialD > , from the Palette, and then add x to it and perform //Head on it , it > just returns DifferentialD > > thank you....jerry blimbaum > \[DifferentialD]x cannot be used as a symbol because \[DifferentialD] is treated as an operator. A symbol name must start with a letter. But why do you want to use \[DifferentialD]x as a symbol anyway? I cannot imagine any reasonable application for this. If you explained your motivation for wanting to have a symbol with this name, perhaps we could say something more useful ...