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C[i]

is the default form for the i ^(th) parameter or constant generated in representing the results of various symbolic computations.

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Basic Examples  
Scope  
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C

C[i]

is the default form for the i ^(th) parameter or constant generated in representing the results of various symbolic computations.

Details

  • The C[i] are often used to parameterize families of solutions to equations.
  • In functions like DSolve, the C[i] can be thought of as corresponding to constants of integration.
  • In cases such as partial differential equations, the C[i] represent functions rather than variables.
  • C is the default setting for the option GeneratedParameters in such functions as DSolve, RSolve, and Reduce.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (3)

Parameters generated by Reduce:

Wolfram Language code: Reduce[Sin[x] == 1, x]

Parameters generated by DSolve:

Wolfram Language code: DSolve[y''[x] == -y[x], y[x], x]

Parameters generated by RSolve:

Wolfram Language code: RSolve[f[k + 1] == f[k] + f[k - 1], f[k], k]

Scope  (1)

In some cases, the "constants" are functions of other variables:

Wolfram Language code: Integrate[x ^ 2 + y ^ 2, x, y, GeneratedParameters -> C]

They can even be functions of multiple other variables:

Wolfram Language code: Integrate[x ^ 2 + y ^ 2, x, y, z, GeneratedParameters -> C]
Wolfram Research (1991), C, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/C.html (updated 2003).

Text

Wolfram Research (1991), C, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/C.html (updated 2003).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1991. "C." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2003. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/C.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1991). C. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/C.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_c, author="Wolfram Research", title="{C}", year="2003", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/C.html}", note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_c, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={C}, year={2003}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/C.html}, note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}