What is Derivative: Definition and 1000 Discussions

In mathematics, the derivative of a function of a real variable measures the sensitivity to change of the function value (output value) with respect to a change in its argument (input value). Derivatives are a fundamental tool of calculus. For example, the derivative of the position of a moving object with respect to time is the object's velocity: this measures how quickly the position of the object changes when time advances.
The derivative of a function of a single variable at a chosen input value, when it exists, is the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the function at that point. The tangent line is the best linear approximation of the function near that input value. For this reason, the derivative is often described as the "instantaneous rate of change", the ratio of the instantaneous change in the dependent variable to that of the independent variable.
Derivatives can be generalized to functions of several real variables. In this generalization, the derivative is reinterpreted as a linear transformation whose graph is (after an appropriate translation) the best linear approximation to the graph of the original function. The Jacobian matrix is the matrix that represents this linear transformation with respect to the basis given by the choice of independent and dependent variables. It can be calculated in terms of the partial derivatives with respect to the independent variables. For a real-valued function of several variables, the Jacobian matrix reduces to the gradient vector.
The process of finding a derivative is called differentiation. The reverse process is called antidifferentiation. The fundamental theorem of calculus relates antidifferentiation with integration. Differentiation and integration constitute the two fundamental operations in single-variable calculus.

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  1. E

    I How to Convert this Derivative?

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  2. mertcan

    A Expansion of covariant derivative

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  3. Muthumanimaran

    Is my derivative for the Wigner function of Fock States correct?

    Homework Statement Currently I am doing a problem of finding Wigner function for Fock States, while I got this derivative, I found the derivative, but I am not sure my answer is correct. please verify whether my answer is correct or not. $$ \frac{∂^2n}{∂β^n∂(β*)^n} exp(-|β|^2-4|α||β|) $$ β...
  4. T

    I Change of variable - partial derivative

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  5. P

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  6. mertcan

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  7. O

    MHB Calculate Change in Q(K,L) w/ Partial Derivatives Given

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  8. BiGyElLoWhAt

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  9. H

    I Proof: If a Polynomial & its Derivative have Same Root

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  10. G

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  11. T

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  12. W

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  13. Andreas C

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  14. D

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  15. Y

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  16. 5

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  18. J

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  19. A

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  20. Mr Davis 97

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  21. A

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  22. P

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  23. T

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  24. P

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  26. nfcfox

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  27. rojan1918

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  28. terryds

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  29. F

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  30. S

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  31. S

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  33. D

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  34. S

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  35. I

    I What's The Discrete Math Derivative Equivalent?

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  36. F

    B What does the derivative of a function at a point describe?

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  37. Amrator

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  38. K

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  39. StanEvans

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  40. darida

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  41. R

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  42. D

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  43. karush

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  44. beyondlight

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  45. N

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  48. N

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  49. Jonathan Densil

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  50. Z

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