Differentiation or the derivative is the instantaneous rate of change of a function with respect to one of its variables. This is equivalent to finding the slope of the tangent line to the function at a point.
Derivative of Curve
lim Δx→0 (f(x0+Δx) f(x))/Δ x = df (x)/ dx.
It is possible to haves differentiate the function f (x) more than once. The second-derivative is the derivative of the derivative of a function.
Notation
There are many popular notations for writing the derivative. The usefulness of each notation varies with the context and it is sometimes advantageous to use more than one notation in a given context. The most common notations for differentiation are listed below.
Leibnizs Notation
Leibnizs notation, is d dx f (x).
The second derivative d 2 dx 2 f (x)
and Higher orders of differentiation are shown as dndxn f (x)
Lagranges Notation
Lagranges notation is a common notation and perhaps a more convinient form for writting in HTML. It denotes the derrivative by a superscripted prime mark .
For example, f for the first derivative. Higher order derivatives up to the third order, are written by adding prime-marks. Thus f and f are written for the second and third order, respectively. Even higher orders may be represented by an arabic number in brackets. f (n) is the n th derivative.
Newtons Notation
x . for the first derivative.
x .. for the second derivative.
x for the third derivative.
Eulers Notation
Eulers notation is represented by a capital D. For example, Dx2 f (x).
