• YOU can help the next generation of students in the community!
    Share your trial papers and notes on our Notes & Resources page

Differentiating theta and Pi (2 Viewers)

BlueGas

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2014
Messages
2,448
Gender
Male
HSC
N/A
There are lots of maxima and minima questions involving theta and pi, but I have trouble differentiating them because I don't what to do. For example this question, the same answers differentiated the equation but it's kind of confusing.





So does theta act as x?

How about Pi? That really annoys my the most, for example if I was to differentiate 2Pi, would the answer be 2? Does Pi also act x?

How about if it was 2Pir^2? As in 2 times Pi times r^2? I see this the most in cylinders, etc. How would I differentiate this?
 

Drsoccerball

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
3,650
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2015
So r would be the one acting as x?
r is constant. It depends on the question and what it says: Differentiate in terms of x means you differentiate x. Differentiate in terms of pi means you differentiate pi.
 

Drsoccerball

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
3,650
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2015
Since it's which means it's differentiating with respect to . Think of it as where and . Thus, in this case it is treated as if it were a variable.

As for we all know it's a constant so.
e.g.
But this doesnt consider : ...
 

Silly Sausage

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
594
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
Since it's which means it's differentiating with respect to . Think of it as where and . Thus, in this case it is treated as if it were a variable.

As for we all know it's a constant so.
e.g.
 

Silly Sausage

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
594
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
There wouldn't be many cases where would be used as a variable. OP was probably getting confused on whether to treat it as a variable or a constant. If was a variable then something like .
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,137
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Just making sure that everyone realises that d/dπ is meaningless.

You can never say that d/dπ (π) is 1.
 

Silly Sausage

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
594
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
Yeah but would you ever get an equation where pi is the variable? Likewise with e. It's pretty much a certainty that pi will never be treated as a variable.
Highly unlikely. If they do however, it will explicitly stated (or should be at least).
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,137
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
I realise you would never think that.
My comment was directed at HSC students with less understanding than you.
It is amazing how many people believe d/dπ (π) = 1 is a valid statement.
 

Drsoccerball

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
3,650
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2015
Yeah but would you ever get an equation where pi is the variable? Likewise with e. It's pretty much a certainty that pi will never be treated as a variable.
I've seen questions that have
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 2)

Top