A differential of the form
|
(1) |
is exact (also called a Total Differential) if is path-independent. This will be true if
|
(2) |
so and must be of the form
|
(3) |
But
|
(4) |
|
(5) |
so
|
(6) |
See also Pfaffian Form, Inexact Differential
© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-25