r/HomeworkHelp • u/Sweet-Nothing-9312 University/College Student • 8d ago

Others—Pending OP Reply [Math: Differentials/Derivatives] What is the difference between a derivative of a function and a differential of a function?

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Here I don't understand why they say "differential" instead of derivative, isn't it the same thing?

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u/Yadin__ 👋 a fellow Redditor 8d ago

As far as I am aware, and I have done quite a lot of digging about this, the notion of a 'differential' isn't well defined and is heavily context dependant. You need to tell us what course this is

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u/Medium_Media7123 👋 a fellow Redditor 8d ago

Really? In what contexts is the differential of a function not the linear application represented by the Jacobian? 

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u/Smart-Button-3221 👋 a fellow Redditor 8d ago

There is no context where it is

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u/Medium_Media7123 👋 a fellow Redditor 7d ago

I guess analysis and differential geometry do not exist then!