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In mathematics, an integral is the continuous analog of a sum, which is used to calculate areas, volumes, and their generalizations. Integration, the process of computing an integral, is one of the two fundamental operations of calculus, [a] the other being differentiation. Integration was initially used to solve problems in mathematics and ...
Action. In physics, action is a scalar quantity that describes how the balance of kinetic versus potential energy of a physical system changes with trajectory. Action is significant because it is an input to the principle of stationary action, an approach to classical mechanics that is simpler for multiple objects. [1]
If f(x) is a smooth function integrated over a small number of dimensions, and the domain of integration is bounded, there are many methods for approximating the integral to the desired precision. Numerical integration has roots in the geometrical problem of finding a square with the same area as a given plane figure ( quadrature or squaring ...
Integral equation. For equations of integer unknowns, see Diophantine equation. In mathematics, integral equations are equations in which an unknown function appears under an integral sign. [1] In mathematical notation, integral equations may thus be expressed as being of the form: where is an integral operator acting on u.
The definite integral inputs a function and outputs a number, which gives the algebraic sum of areas between the graph of the input and the x-axis. The technical definition of the definite integral involves the limit of a sum of areas of rectangles, called a Riemann sum. [47]: 282 A motivating example is the distance traveled in a given time.
In mathematics (specifically multivariable calculus), a multiple integral is a definite integral of a function of several real variables, for instance, f(x, y) or f(x, y, z). Integrals of a function of two variables over a region in (the real-number plane) are called double integrals, and integrals of a function of three variables over a region ...
Common integrals in quantum field theory. Common integrals in quantum field theory are all variations and generalizations of Gaussian integrals to the complex plane and to multiple dimensions. [1]: 13–15 Other integrals can be approximated by versions of the Gaussian integral. Fourier integrals are also considered.
The imaginary unit or unit imaginary number (i) is a solution to the quadratic equation x2 + 1 = 0. Although there is no real number with this property, i can be used to extend the real numbers to what are called complex numbers, using addition and multiplication. A simple example of the use of i in a complex number is 2 + 3i.