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Page Revision: 2009/09/20 12:44


diff('expression','variable','order') - Differentiate.

If the 'order' is omitted, the first order derivative is asumed.

The function is used to perform symbolic or numeric derivatives. It can be inserted by typing diff( or from the Function palette under Derivative template (this is simpler).

Chose the Derivative template and insert in the 'variable' placeholder x and in the 'expression' placeholder x2. After that press CTRL+. (symbolic calculation). You should obtain this result:

deriv1

We could have defined the 'expression' f first in variabl x and y, for instance:

deriv1

and found the first derivatives over the variables (partial derivatives, actually):

deriv1

How to obtain the higher order derivatives? Press comma after the 'variable' and in the obtained placeholder insert the 'order' (integer). Here are the second derivatives:

deriv1

Here are mixed derivatives as well: deriv1

Instead of an expression we could have defined a function and repeat the procedure:

deriv1

Numerical derivatives are found at the given values. For instance:

deriv1

Very important SMath feature is ability to find the derivatives over the elements of a vector (matrix). Here is an example of finding Jacobi matrix and Jacobian:

deriv1

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