partial derivative

American  

noun

Mathematics.

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

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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

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of partial derivative

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

In Partial Derivatives we introduced the partial derivative.

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

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

In Chain Rule for One Independent Variable, the left-hand side of the formula for the derivative is not a partial derivative, but in Chain Rule for Two Independent Variables it is.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

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

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016