SRS: Data Definitions (General)

[GenevaS]

I would ask Dr. Smith about this one first:

Shouldn't the equations be written such that the symbol being defined is the LHS and the equation that it can be found with is the RHS?

A trivial example: instead of writing x(t0) = x0 for Initial values (x0), write x0 = x(t0).

[aschaap]

I agree. However, in the case of this example, x0 is provided and x(t0) is what one wants know.

[GenevaS]

Shouldn't your symbol for this definition be x(t0) then? If I take the same original example, you state that the symbol is x0 but then define the equation as x(t0) = x0. My confusion is in what you are calling your "symbol" for the definition.

[aschaap]

Good question. I wrote it up the way most sources seem to - I think that's because x(t0) could hypothetically be assigned different x0's, since we only know x', and not x. (Intuitively, since we often need to add a + C when integrating, there could be multiple solutions for different values of C.)

[aschaap]

@smiths, what do you think the right thing to do is in this case?

[smiths]

I'm not sure what the question is here. If LHS = RHS, then RHS = LHS. The symbols are x, t0 and x0. x has type real to real, t0 is real and x0 is real. Stylistically, I prefer x(t0) = x0, but it isn't a strong preference.

[aschaap]

I've left it as is as this seems more a matter of personal taste.

[GenevaS]

Ok, fair enough.