Computer algebra
Symbolic differentiation
Computing a derivative by applying exact rules to an expression.
Definition
Symbolic differentiation
Symbolic differentiation derives an expression for a function's rate of change.
The algorithm follows rules for sums, products, powers, and compositions. A checker can differentiate independently or verify the local rule applications.
01
Example
The derivative of (x² + 1)³ is 6x(x² + 1)² by the chain rule.
02
Important distinction
A symbolic derivative still depends on the domain and differentiability of the original expression.
After reading this article, you should be able to
- Define Symbolic differentiation in the sense used on this site.
- Check a polynomial or composite derivative by applying named rules.