Differential calculus

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In mathematics, differential calculus is a subfield of calculus that studies the rates at which quantities change. The primary objects of study in differential calculus are the derivative of a function, related notions such as the differential, and their applications. The derivative of a function at a chosen input equals the instantaneous rate of change of the function at that input. The process of finding a derivative is called differentiation. Geometrically, the derivative at a point is the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the function at that point, provided that the derivative exists and is defined at that point. For a real-valued function of a single real variable, the derivative of a function at a point generally determines the best linear approximation to the function at that point. Differential calculus is one of the two traditional divisions of calculus, the other being integral calculus—the study of accumulation or area beneath a curve. Differential calculus and integral...

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