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differential calculus

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differential calculus

–noun
the branch of mathematics that deals with differentials and derivatives.

Origin:
1700–05
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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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.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Science Dictionary
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 variations, integral calculus.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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