What does a delta mean in calculus?

1 Answer
Parabola
Mar 5, 2018

Read below.

Explanation:

Mainly used for "Difference between two given values", it is used a lot in derivatives.

If we have any line on a graph, its slope is (y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1) This means "the change in y value over the change is x value"
which can be rewritten as (Deltay)/(Deltax)

Calculus stuff...

Now, more interestingly, as these difference gets closer and closer to zero, we can say that we get closer and closer to 0/0

Which tells us that the difference in the values are getting really, really, small.

If you think about that, we are shrinking two points down to a point.

If we were to have a curve and have a line pass through only one point on it, then we can call that line is tangent to the curve.

Anyways, I wish you good luck in calculus!
"(Don't worry if you can't understand this. It will make sense"
"over time.)"

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