f'(a) = lim_{h→0} (f(a+h) − f(a))/h. A linear approximation: the best slope that fits f near a.
Derivative
Related concepts
- Limit of a function
- Continuity
- Mean value theorem
- Fundamental theorem of calculus
- Taylor series
- Ordinary differential equation (ODE)
- Partial differential equation (PDE)
- Newton's method
- Finite-difference methods
- Holomorphic function
- Rolle's theorem
- Tangent space T_p M
- Infinitesimal strain tensor
- Material (substantial) derivative
- Variational calculus