Partial differential equation

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Partial differential equations are a kind of math. They take the derivative of an equation in terms of one variable where the other variable, or variables, is seen as a constant. For instance, if you were driving down a road and took the partial derivative in terms of your x, or latitude, component, you would find the rate you where changing in the latitude, or horizontal, direction. So the partial derivative of f(x,y)=x^2+y^2 in terms of x would be 2x, or 2 times x, because when it is terms of x, y is seen as a constant. This is like taking the derivative of x^2+1 or x^2+4.