differential calculus

American  

noun

1. the branch of mathematics that deals with differentials and derivatives.

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differential calculus British  

noun

1. the branch of calculus concerned with the study, evaluation, and use of derivatives and differentials Compare integral calculus

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differential calculus Scientific  

1. 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.

2. Compare calculus of variations integral calculus

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Etymology

Origin of differential calculus

First recorded in 1700–05

Example Sentences

“Megyn Kelly knows as much about the Vatican as I know about differential calculus, which is nothing,” he said.

From Washington Times • Jun. 20, 2022

At 24, having mastered neither algebra nor trigonometry, she begged to throw herself into differential calculus.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2018

It’s not every first-grader, after all, who spends her free time tackling differential calculus and shames her classmates with the sort of mental prowess that might give Matilda Wormwood a run for her money.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2017

He showed an aptitude for mathematics and in high school won a statewide science contest with his paper on finite differential calculus.

From Washington Post • May 14, 2016

Two years later he invented the differential calculus.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan