differentiation: Quick Facts

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Photos

Two diagrams illustrate calculus concepts: the left shows a curve with a chord connecting points at x = a and x = x, representing the slope as the difference quotient for differentiation; the right shows rectangles under a curve between x = a and x = b, representing estimation of area for integration.

graph of distance traveled versus time elapsed for the motion of an automobile

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Topics

chain rule differentiator product rule electronic differentiator derivative differential fluxion differential calculus mathematics permutations and combinations integration interpolation mapping Proof probability theory cryptology computer science combinatorics algebra

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Key People

Engraved portrait of Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz with long curly hair, wearing a buttoned coat and cravat, facing forward.

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

German philosopher and mathematician

Fermat, portrait by Roland Lefèvre; in the Narbonne City Museums, France

Pierre de Fermat

French mathematician

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Tullio Levi-Civita

Italian mathematician

Equations written on blackboard

Numbers and Mathematics

Italian-born physicist Dr. Enrico Fermi draws a diagram at a blackboard with mathematical equations. circa 1950.

Define It: Math Terms