Re: funtion notation

From: William Elliot (marsh_at_privacy.net)
Date: 11/19/04 

Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 04:22:14 -0800

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004, Edo wrote:

> Hello
> I need a bit of help in making sense of this
> F(t,u,du/dt) what does this mean in general?

It means the F is a function of three variables
F(x,y,z) for which x is given the value t, y is
given u and z is given du/dt.

> ok, Force is a function of time, distance, velocity, could some body
> gives examples and explain the reason for putting (t,u,...) inside the
> function quotation (), does "," mean "or, and, or what"
> what if f(x, y, t, z, ...)?
>
f is a function of four or more variables called x, y, t and z, ...
or that f is a function of four or more variables where the first
variable is given the value x, the second y, the third t and the
forth z.

The comma separates one variable from another. Otherwise f(xy), a function
of two variables x and y would be the same as f(xy), a function of one
variable given the value xy. It is syntatical in usage, rather than
logical in meaning. The use of () in f(x) for f is a function of x is
a linguistic or notational choice. Some notational systems do
differently.