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Differential calculus in three or more dimensions; partial differentiation

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Mathematics for Chemists
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Abstract

Typical three-dimensional problems are the (p, v,T) properties of a gas or the vapour pressure of a two-component mixture. Here we have three variables and an equation connecting them, so that two variables are independent (see Section 1.4). In such cases the geometrical method is to draw a three-dimensional diagram and then to consider two- dimensional sections, which apply when the third variable is held constant. Thus we may consider p against v at constant T for a gas, or p against mole fraction x at constant T for the mixture. The corresponding analytical problem is: Given a function z = z (x, y) how does z vary with x when y is kept constant, and with y when x is kept constant?

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© 1984 P. G. Francis

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Francis, P.G. (1984). Differential calculus in three or more dimensions; partial differentiation. In: Mathematics for Chemists. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5552-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5552-3_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8950-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5552-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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