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In the impulse article on Wikipedia, the mathematical derivation chapter: $$J = \int_{t_1}^{t_2} \frac{d\mathbf{p}}{dt}\, dt = \int_{p_1}^{p_2} d\mathbf{p} = \mathbf{p_2} - \mathbf{p_1} = \Delta \mathbf{p}$$

As someone noticed in the article's Talk:

After the "therefore" statement in the "Mathematical derivation in the case of an object of constant mass" section, a misuse of notation is used to seemingly "cancel out" the 'dt's in the integration expression,. This should instead be a statement of the Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to derive the impulse-momentum theorem. While the "cancelling" is a subtlety that provides the correct results, it could mislead readers. A change could look like $$I = \int_{t_1}^{t_2} \frac{d\mathbf{p}}{dt}\, dt = \mathbf{p_2} - \mathbf{p_1} = \Delta \mathbf{p}$$

Which notation is correct here?

Git Gud
  • 31,356
  • If $\mathbf{p_2}$ and $\mathbf{p_1}$ equal $\mathbf{p}(t_2)$ and $\mathbf{p}(t_1)$, respectively, then the second one is correct and the first one is wrong. This is assuming the symbols are being used with their standard meanings. Edit: See this related question. – Git Gud Mar 27 '16 at 10:27
  • This sort of notation is used very frequently. The "cancelling" is a symbolic representation of what is commonly called u-substitution now, but in a different form. – davidlowryduda Mar 27 '16 at 11:05

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