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partial differential equation

partial differential equation

1 9.6
An equation that shows how a value changes when two or more things change
  • noun
  • /ˈpɑːrʧəl ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃəl ɪˈkweɪʒən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ecuación diferencial parcial
  • To determine the time evolution of the meat temperature requires the solution of this partial differential equation, with the appropriate conductive, convective, and radiative boundary conditions.
  • solving a partial differential equation
  • nonlinear partial differential equations
  • coupled systems of partial differential equations

So physics is written in terms of partial differential equations.

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Examples

  • Turbulence problems can easily be set up on the computer, since a turbulent system may be correctly described by a well-known partial differential equation, the Navier-Stokes equation.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The governing equation is a linear fourth-order parabolic partial differential equation with boundary and initial conditions.

    Blog text (2)
  • I will then solve a set of partial differential equations at most and figure out how those little things in the box actually work.

  • Her research interests are in several complex variables, partial differential equations, and complex geometry.

    Blog text (25)
  • And then this is the package they sell for solving partial differential equations by finite elements.

  • Scientists know the partial differential equations obeyed by any fluid in which variations in space and time are sufficiently gentle.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Researchers often need to solve a partial differential equation to model the behavior of fluids over time.

  • In many engineering fields, the design process involves understanding partial differential equations that describe heat transfer.

  • To accurately predict the flow of air over the wing, engineers rely on a partial differential equation that captures complex interactions.

Surface Forms

Morphology

partial + differential + equation

Each part contributes directly: 'differential equation' denotes an equation involving derivatives and the modifier 'partial' specifies that these are partial derivatives with respect to one variable of a multivariable function. The phrase is compositional and follows regular noun-modifier patterns (and has clear equivalents in other languages), so a learner who knows the constituent mathematical terms can derive the full meaning.

Etymology

The term partial differential equation comes from three simple ideas: partial means 'only part or one direction', differential means 'a very small change', and equation means 'a rule that connects things'. So it is a rule that connects small changes in different directions, which is why people use it to describe heat, waves and other changes over space and time.