Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

partial derivative

American  

noun

Mathematics.
  1. the derivative of a function with respect to one of its variables with all other variables held constant.


partial derivative British  

noun

  1. the derivative of a function of two or more variables with respect to one of the variables, the other or others being considered constant. Written ∂f/∂ x

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

partial derivative Scientific  
/ pär′shəl /
  1. The derivative with respect to a single variable of a function of two or more variables, regarding other variables as constants.


Etymology

Origin of partial derivative

First recorded in 1970–75


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

To calculate a partial derivative with respect to a given variable, treat all the other variables as constants and use the usual differentiation rules.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

We can calculate a partial derivative of a function of three variables using the same idea we used for a function of two variables.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

For the following exercises, calculate the sign of the partial derivative using the graph of the surface.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

There are no points in ℝ2 that make either partial derivative not exist.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

In Partial Derivatives we introduced the partial derivative.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training