- #1
mikeph
- 1,235
- 18
Hi
I've seen this a few times, where we say f = f(x, y; t) for example, without a proper definition or any guidelines of usage. In my mind I read this as "f is a function over x and y, but it is also dependent on t although this is usually a fixed parameter", even though we might have some function like
f(x,y;t) = yx2/t
i.e. from looking at the form of f, you could not tell which variables would go either side of the semicolon.
Perhaps it can also be read as f being a family of functions over (x,y), where each is parametrised by t. But then this is just semantics, the maths is no different, so what's the point in the semicolon?
Does anyone know a better definition of this notation?
Thanks
Mike
I've seen this a few times, where we say f = f(x, y; t) for example, without a proper definition or any guidelines of usage. In my mind I read this as "f is a function over x and y, but it is also dependent on t although this is usually a fixed parameter", even though we might have some function like
f(x,y;t) = yx2/t
i.e. from looking at the form of f, you could not tell which variables would go either side of the semicolon.
Perhaps it can also be read as f being a family of functions over (x,y), where each is parametrised by t. But then this is just semantics, the maths is no different, so what's the point in the semicolon?
Does anyone know a better definition of this notation?
Thanks
Mike