Can someone please explain to me what a derivative is in simple terms?

Author Question: Can someone please explain to me what a derivative is in simple terms? (Read 1303 times)

Sandstorm

Sr. Member
Posts: 268

on: Jun 19, 2013

I need help defining the derivative of a function f(x) I have tried to look online, but I just don't understand the lingo. I just need simple terms to help me understand this. And just to clarify this is to help me for my college Calculus exam coming up soon. Thank you so much!

ricki

Full Member
Posts: 200

Reply #1 on: Jun 19, 2013

the derivative is the slope

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question

Jesse_J

Sr. Member
Posts: 282

Reply #2 on: Jun 19, 2013

derivatives are the successors. what follows/ comes next.

« previous next »

Did you know?

As the western states of America were settled, pioneers often had to drink rancid water from ponds and other sources. This often resulted in chronic diarrhea, causing many cases of dehydration and death that could have been avoided if clean water had been available.

Did you know?

The heart is located in the center of the chest, with part of it tipped slightly so that it taps against the left side of the chest.

Did you know?

Chronic necrotizing aspergillosis has a slowly progressive process that, unlike invasive aspergillosis, does not spread to other organ systems or the blood vessels. It most often affects middle-aged and elderly individuals, spreading to surrounding tissue in the lungs. The disease often does not respond to conventionally successful treatments, and requires individualized therapies in order to keep it from becoming life-threatening.

Did you know?

The training of an anesthesiologist typically requires four years of college, 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship, and 3 years of residency.

Did you know?

Your skin wrinkles if you stay in the bathtub a long time because the outermost layer of skin (which consists of dead keratin) swells when it absorbs water. It is tightly attached to the skin below it, so it compensates for the increased area by wrinkling. This happens to the hands and feet because they have the thickest layer of dead keratin cells.