Differentiation

The process of finding the function that represents the gradient of a curve is called differentiation.

The first derivative (the gradient) is written: dy dx , y' or f' (x)

Results (or rules) :

y = x n ⇒ dy dx = n x n - 1

y = k x n ⇒ dy dx = k n x n - 1

y = c ⇒ dy dx = 0

y = k x ⇒ dy dx = k

Any equation with terms in dy dx is a differential equation.