Differential may refer to:
Mathematics
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Differential (mathematics) 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) (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 In algebraic number theory, the different ideal (sometimes simply the different) is defined to measure the (possible) lack of duality in the ring of integers of an algebraic number field ''K'', with respect to the field trace. It then encodes the ...
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Differential geometry
Differential geometry is a mathematical discipline that studies the geometry of smooth shapes and smooth spaces, otherwise known as smooth manifolds. It uses the techniques of differential calculus, integral calculus, linear algebra and multili ...
, 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 res ...
, 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 aff ...
, 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, or a fixed multiple of that average.
Functional description
The following descr ...
, as part of a powertrain and car, the device that allows each of the driving wheels 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 als ...
, the steering method used by tanks and similar tracked vehicles
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Electronic differential In automotive engineering the electronic differential is a form of differential, which provides the required torque for each driving wheel and allows different wheel speeds. It is used in place of the mechanical differential in multi-drive systems ...
, an electric motor controller which substitutes its mechanical counterpart with significant advantages in electric vehicle application
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Differential signaling, in electronics, applies to a method of transmitting electronic signals over a pair of wires to reduce interference
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Differential amplifier 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 may increase the power (physics ...
that amplifies signals.
Social sciences
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Semantic
Semantics (from grc, σημαντικός ''sēmantikós'', "significant") is the study of reference, meaning, or truth. The term can be used to refer to subfields of several distinct disciplines, including philosophy, linguistics and comput ...
and
structural differential
The structural differential is a physical chart or three-dimensional model illustrating the abstracting processes of the human nervous system. In one form, it appears as a pegboard with tags. Created by Alfred Korzybski, and awarded a U.S. patent o ...
s in psychology
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Quality spread differential Quality spread differential (QSD) arises during an interest rate swap in which two parties of different levels of creditworthiness experience different levels of interest rates of debt obligations. A positive QSD means that a swap (finance), swap is ...
, in finance
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Compensating differential, in labor economics
Medicine
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Differential diagnosis
In healthcare, a differential diagnosis (abbreviated DDx) is a method of analysis of a patient's history and physical examination to arrive at the correct diagnosis. It involves distinguishing a particular disease or condition from others that p ...
, 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
Differential heat treatment (also called selective heat treatment or local heat treatment) is a technique used during heat treating to harden or soften certain areas of a steel object, creating a difference in hardness between these areas. There ar ...
, in metallurgy
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Differential rotation, 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 ref ...
, in materials science
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Differential signalling, in communications
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Differential GPS, in satellite navigation technology
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Differential interferometry
Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) is a form of radar that is used to create two-dimensional images or three-dimensional reconstructions of objects, such as landscapes. SAR uses the motion of the radar antenna over a target region to provide fine ...
in radar
* ''Differential'', an extended play by
The Sixth Lie
The Sixth Lie (stylized as THE SIXTH LIE) is a Japanese electronic rock band formed in May 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. Their music is known for its hybrid style inspired by the latest western music, and their overall science fiction-inspired theme con ...
* ''Handicap differential'', part of the calculation used in producing
golf handicaps
See also
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Different (disambiguation)
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