Differential may refer to:
Mathematics
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Differential (mathematics)
In mathematics, differential refers to several related notions derived from the early days of calculus, put on a rigorous footing, such as infinitesimal differences and the derivatives of functions.
The term is used in various branches of mathe ...
comprises multiple related meanings of the word, both in calculus and differential geometry, such as an infinitesimal change in the value of a function
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Differential algebra
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Differential calculus
In mathematics, differential calculus is a subfield of calculus that studies the rates at which quantities change. It is one of the two traditional divisions of calculus, the other being integral calculus—the study of the area beneath a curve. ...
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Differential of a function, represents a change in the linearization of a function
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Total differential is its generalization for functions of multiple variables
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Differential (infinitesimal)
In mathematics, differential refers to several related notions derived from the early days of calculus, put on a rigorous footing, such as infinitesimal differences and the derivatives of functions.
The term is used in various branches of mathema ...
(e.g. ''dx'', ''dy'', ''dt'' etc.) are interpreted as infinitesimals
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Differential topology
In mathematics, differential topology is the field dealing with the topological properties and smooth properties of smooth manifolds. In this sense differential topology is distinct from the closely related field of differential geometry, which ...
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Differential (pushforward) The total derivative of a map between manifolds.
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Differential exponent, an exponent in the factorisation of the
different ideal
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Differential geometry
Differential geometry is a Mathematics, mathematical discipline that studies the geometry of smooth shapes and smooth spaces, otherwise known as smooth manifolds. It uses the techniques of Calculus, single variable calculus, vector calculus, lin ...
, exterior differential, or
exterior derivative
On a differentiable manifold, the exterior derivative extends the concept of the differential of a function to differential forms of higher degree. The exterior derivative was first described in its current form by Élie Cartan in 1899. The re ...
, is a generalization to
differential form
In mathematics, differential forms provide a unified approach to define integrands over curves, surfaces, solids, and higher-dimensional manifolds. The modern notion of differential forms was pioneered by Élie Cartan. It has many applications ...
s of the notion of differential of a function on a differentiable manifold
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Differential (coboundary), in homological algebra and algebraic topology, one of the maps of a cochain complex
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Differential cryptanalysis
Differential cryptanalysis is a general form of cryptanalysis applicable primarily to block ciphers, but also to stream ciphers and cryptographic hash functions. In the broadest sense, it is the study of how differences in information input can a ...
, a pair consisting of the difference, usually computed by XOR, between two plaintexts, and the difference of the corresponding ciphertexts
Science and technology
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Differential (mechanical device)
A differential is a gear train with three drive shafts that has the property that the rotational speed of one shaft is the average of the speeds of the others. A common use of differentials is in motor vehicles, to allow the wheels at each ...
, as part of a motor vehicle drivetrain, the device that allows driving wheels or axles on opposite sides to rotate at different speeds
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Limited-slip differential
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Differential steering
Differential steering is the means of steering a land vehicle by applying more drive torque to one side of the vehicle than the other. Differential steering is the primary means of steering tracked vehicles, such as tanks and bulldozers, is al ...
, the steering method used by tanks and similar tracked vehicles
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Electronic differential, an electric motor controller which substitutes its mechanical counterpart with significant advantages in electric vehicle application
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Differential signaling
Differential signalling is a method for electrically transmitting information using two complementary signals. The technique sends the same electrical signal as a differential pair of signals, each in its own conductor. The pair of conduc ...
, in electronics, applies to a method of transmitting electronic signals over a pair of wires to reduce interference
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Differential amplifier
A differential amplifier is a type of electronic amplifier that amplifies the difference between two input voltages but suppresses any voltage common to the two inputs. It is an analog circuit with two inputs V_\text^- and V_\text^+ and one outp ...
, an
electronic amplifier
An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a Signal (information theory), signal (a time-varying voltage or Electric current, current). It is a two-port network, two-port ...
that amplifies signals.
Social sciences
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Semantic
Semantics is the study of linguistic Meaning (philosophy), meaning. It examines what meaning is, how words get their meaning, and how the meaning of a complex expression depends on its parts. Part of this process involves the distinction betwee ...
and
structural differentials in psychology
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Quality spread differential, in finance
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Compensating differential, in labor economics
Medicine
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Differential diagnosis
In healthcare, a differential diagnosis (DDx) is a method of analysis that distinguishes a particular disease or condition from others that present with similar clinical features. Differential diagnostic procedures are used by clinicians to di ...
, the characterization of the underlying cause of pathological states based on specific tests
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White blood cell differential, the enumeration of each type of white blood cell either manually or using automated analyzers
Other
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Differential hardening, in metallurgy
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Differential rotation
Differential rotation is seen when different parts of a rotating object move with different angular velocities (or rates of rotation) at different latitudes and/or depths of the body and/or in time. This indicates that the object is not rigi ...
, in astronomy
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Differential centrifugation, in cell biology
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Differential scanning calorimetry
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a thermoanalytical technique in which the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference is measured as a function of temperature. Both the sample and re ...
, in materials science
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Differential signalling, in communications
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Differential GPS
Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPSs) supplement and enhance the positional data available from global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs). A DGPS can increase accuracy of positional data by about a thousandfold, from approximately to ...
, in satellite navigation technology
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Differential interferometry in radar
* ''Differential'', an extended play by
The Sixth Lie
* ''Handicap differential'', part of the calculation used in producing
golf handicap
A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's ability, or potential ability, that is used to enable players of different abilities to compete against one another. Better players are those with the lowest handicaps.
Historically, rules relat ...
s
See also
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Different (disambiguation)
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