Differential

Differential may refer to:

Mathematics

• 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
• Differential algebra
• Differential calculus
  • Differential of a function, represents a change in the linearization of a function
  • Differential (infinitesimal) (e.g. dx, dy, dt etc.) are interpreted as infinitesimals
  • Differential topology, in multivariable calculus, the differential of a smooth map between Euclidean spaces or differentiable manifolds is the approximating linear map between the tangent spaces, called pushforward (differential)
• Differential geometry, exterior differential, or exterior derivative, is a generalization to differential forms of the notion of differential of a function on a differentiable manifold
• Differential (coboundary), in homological algebra and algebraic topology, one of the maps of a cochain complex
• Differential cryptanalysis, a pair consisting of the difference, usually computed by XOR, between two plaintexts, and the difference of the corresponding ciphertexts

Natural sciences and engineering

• Differential (mechanical device), as part of a powertrain and car, the device that allows each of the driving wheels to rotate at different speeds
• Limited slip differential
• Electronic differential, an electric motor controller which substitutes its mechanical counterpart with significant advantages in electric vehicle application
• Differential signaling, in electronics, applies to a method of transmitting electronic signals over a pair of wires to improve noise immunity

Social sciences

• Semantic and structural differentials in psychology
• Quality spread differential, in finance
• Compensating differential, in labor economics

Medicine

• Differential diagnosis, the characterization of the underlying cause of pathological states based on specific tests
• Differential WBC count,the enumeration of each type of white blood cells either manually or using automated analyzers

Other

• Differential hardening, in metallurgy
• Differential rotation, in astronomy
• Differential centrifugation, in cell biology
• Differential scanning calorimetry, in materials science
• Differential signalling, in communications
• Differential GPS, in technology

See also

• All pages beginning with "Differential"
• All pages with titles containing "Differential"
• Different (disambiguation)

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