differential calculus

differential calculus

n.

1. The mathematics of the variation of a function with respect to changes in independent variables.

2. The study of slopes of curves, accelerations, maxima, and minima by means of derivatives and differentials.

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differential calculus

Noun

the branch of mathematics concerned with derivatives and differentials

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differential calculus

The mathematics of the variation of a function with respect to changes in independent variables, especially the use of differentiation to calculate rates of change of a function and the maximum and minimum values of a function. Differential calculus has applications such as calculating compound interest, organic growth, and slopes of curves, and studying the acceleration of moving bodies. Compare calculus of variationsintegral calculus

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

differential calculus - the part of calculus that deals with the variation of a function with respect to changes in the independent variable (or variables) by means of the concepts of derivative and differential method of fluxions math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement infinitesimal calculus, calculus - the branch of mathematics that is concerned with limits and with the differentiation and integration of functions