What is $( \partial u / \partial x )^2$ equal to?

Is it equal to $\partial ^2 u / \partial x ^2$?

I am trying to figure that out. I don't think it's the case, but I am just trying to make sure.

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$( \partial u / \partial x )^2$ is the derivative squared, while $\partial ^2 u / \partial x ^2$ is the second derivative (that's the notation for 2nd derivative).

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As others have mentioned, they are not the same. $$( \partial u / \partial x )^2 = ( \partial u / \partial x )( \partial u / \partial x )$$ while $$\partial^2 u / \partial x^2 = \partial / \partial x(\partial u / \partial x).$$ To show an example. If $u = f(x,y) = x^2y$, then $$( \partial u / \partial x )^2 = (2xy)^2$$ and $$\partial^2 u / \partial x^2 = \partial / \partial x (2xy) = 2y.$$

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No, it is just the number $\partial u/\partial x$ multiplied by itself.

There's no simpler way of writing that, as long as you don't know how $u$ is a function of $x$.

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It's not.

Let $f = \partial u / \partial x$.

Then, $( \partial u / \partial x )^2 = f^2$ (assuming $f$ returns a number) and $\partial f / \partial x = \partial ^2 u / \partial x ^2$.

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