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

While forced to be away from Cambridge, he famously discovered the laws of gravity, conducted groundbreaking experiments in optics and began to develop the fundamentals of differential calculus.

From Scientific American

To restrain her enthusiasms, Lady Byron introduced Ada to mathematics: She would soon enough swear that differential calculus made for the best company.

From New York Times

Imagine acing differential calculus and then failing geometry.

From Los Angeles Times

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