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Wolfram|Alpha calls Wolfram Languages's D function, which uses a table of identities much larger than one would find in a standard calculus textbook. For example, it is used to find local/global extrema, find inflection points, solve optimization problems and describe the motion of objects. The derivative is a powerful tool with many applications. Īs an example, if, then and then we can compute. Geometrically speaking, is the slope of the tangent line of at.
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This limit is not guaranteed to exist, but if it does, is said to be differentiable at. Note for second-order derivatives, the notation is often used.Īt a point, the derivative is defined to be. These are called higher-order derivatives. When a derivative is taken times, the notation or is used. Given a function, there are many ways to denote the derivative of with respect to. What are derivatives? The derivative is an important tool in calculus that represents an infinitesimal change in a function with respect to one of its variables.
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