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
    • Total differential is its generalization for functions of multiple variables
  • Differential (infinitesimal) (e.g. dx, dy, dt etc.) are interpreted as infinitesimals
  • Differential equation, an equation relating derivatives of a function
  • Differential topology
• Differential (pushforward) The total derivative of a map between manifolds.
• Differential exponent, an exponent in the factorisation of the different ideal
• 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

Science and technology

• Differential (mechanical device), as part of a motor vehicle drivetrain, the device that allows driving wheels or axles on opposite sides to rotate at different speeds
  • Limited-slip differential
• Differential steering, the steering method used by tanks and similar tracked vehicles
• 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 reduce interference
• Differential amplifier, an electronic amplifier that amplifies signals.

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
• White blood cell differential, the enumeration of each type of white blood cell 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 satellite navigation technology
• Differential interferometry in radar
• Differential, an extended play by The Sixth Lie
• Handicap differential, part of the calculation used in producing golf handicaps

See also

• Template:Lookfrom
• Template:Intitle
• Different (disambiguation)