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Del Vecchio Family
Del, or nabla, is an Operator (mathematics), operator used in mathematics (particularly in vector calculus) as a vector (geometry), vector differential operator, usually represented by the nabla symbol ∇. When applied to a function (mathematics), function defined on a dimension (mathematics), one-dimensional domain, it denotes the standard derivative of the function as defined in calculus. When applied to a ''field'' (a function defined on a multi-dimensional domain), it may denote any one of three operations depending on the way it is applied: the gradient or (locally) steepest slope of a scalar field (or sometimes of a vector field, as in the Navier–Stokes equations#Interpretation as v·(∇v), Navier–Stokes equations); the divergence of a vector field; or the curl (mathematics), curl (rotation) of a vector field. Del is a very convenient mathematical notation for those three operations (gradient, divergence, and curl) that makes many equations easier to write and remem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Operator (mathematics)
In mathematics, an operator is generally a Map (mathematics), mapping or function (mathematics), function that acts on elements of a space (mathematics), space to produce elements of another space (possibly and sometimes required to be the same space). There is no general definition of an ''operator'', but the term is often used in place of ''function'' when the domain of a function, domain is a set of functions or other structured objects. Also, the domain of an operator is often difficult to characterize explicitly (for example in the case of an integral operator), and may be extended so as to act on related objects (an operator that acts on functions may act also on differential equations whose solutions are functions that satisfy the equation). (see Operator (physics) for other examples) The most basic operators are linear maps, which act on vector spaces. Linear operators refer to linear maps whose domain and range are the same space, for example from \mathbb^n to \mathbb^n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
