Geometric Difference between a Finite Difference and a Differential
Geometric Difference between a Finite Difference and a Differential
This Demonstration gives an example of the difference between the finite difference and the differential of a function, using the function . The finite difference of a function is given by . The differential of a function is given by , where we define as the change in the independent variable .
y=f(x)=+x
2
x
Δy=f(x+Δx)-f(x)
dy=y'dx
dx=Δx
x