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differential

 
Dictionary: dif·fer·en·tial   (dĭf'ə-rĕn'shəl) pronunciation
adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or showing a difference.
  2. Constituting or making a difference; distinctive.
  3. Dependent on or making use of a specific difference or distinction.
  4. Mathematics. Of or relating to differentiation.
  5. Involving differences in speed or direction of motion.
n.
  1. Mathematics.
    1. An infinitesimal increment in a variable.
    2. The product of the derivative of a function containing one variable and the increment of the independent variable.
  2. Differential gear.
  3. A difference between comparable things, as in wage rate or in price.
differentially dif'fer·en'tial·ly adv.

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In calculus, an expression based on the derivative of a function, useful for approximating certain values of the function. The differential of an independent variable x, written Dx, is an infinitesimal change in its value. The corresponding differential of its dependent variable y is given by Dy = f(x + Dx- f(x). Because the derivative of the function f(x), f¢(x), is equal to the ratio / as Dx approaches zero (see limit), for small values of Dx, Dy @ f¢(x)Dx. This formula often enables a quick and fairly accurate approximation to be made for what otherwise would be a tedious calculation.

For more information on differential, visit Britannica.com.

Investment Dictionary: Differential
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The amount of adjustment of the delivery location and grade of deliverables that a futures contract permits. Also known as "allowance. "

Investopedia Says:
Some futures contracts allow the short position to adjust the location of the delivery and/or the grade of commodity being delivered. The permitted differentials are set in relation to a central location or the par basis grade.

Related Links:
For those who are new to futures but want a solid understanding of them, this tutorial explains what futures contracts are, how they work and why investors use them. Futures Fundamentals


Banking Dictionary: Differential
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1. Banking. Refers to the 1⁄4 of 1% difference between deposit interest rates paid by commercial banks and rates paid by savings and loans. The rate differential on time deposit accounts, created in the 1960s to give thrift institutions a stable funding source for mortgage lending, was phased out in January 1984.

2. Finance. A broker's commission for handling small, odd-lot orders, which normally is higher than with regular orders.

Antonyms: differential
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adj

Definition: distinctive
Antonyms: same, similar

n

Definition: difference
Antonyms: uniformity


 
Columbia Encyclopedia: differential
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differential, in the automobile, a set of gears used on the driving (usually rear) axle. The two wheels on the driving axle must be interconnected in order to receive their energy from the same source, the driving shaft; at the same time they must be free to revolve at different speeds when necessary (e.g., when rounding a curve, the outer wheel travels farther and thus must revolve faster than the inner wheel in order to prevent skidding). These two requirements are met by the differential gearing. Furthermore, through it the rotating motion of the driving shaft is transmitted to the axle and the wheels. The axle is in two halves; to each half is attached a wheel at one end and, at the inner end, a gear (see gear). The end of the driving shaft is also equipped with a gear. By an ingenious arrangement of these and other gears, together constituting the differential, a difference in speed of the two wheels is compensated for without a loss of tractive force. A disadvantage of the conventional differential is that when one wheel is on a dry and the other on a slippery surface, the differential causes the wheel on the slippery surface to revolve at double speed while the other wheel remains stationary. This hazard can be avoided by use of a limited slip differential, which feeds power to one wheel when the other wheel starts to slip and thus keeps the automobile moving.

Bibliography

See R. T. Hinkle, Kinematics of Machines (2d ed. 1960).


Veterinary Dictionary: differential
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Exhibiting or depending on a difference.

  • d. absorption — see differential absorption.
  • d. cell count — see differential count.
  • d. diagnosis — the differences between diseases in terms of clinical signs and epidemiological parameters; used as a basis for selecting as a diagnosis the one with the best fit to those seen in the subject.
  • d. leukocyte count — see differential count.
  • d. milk cell counts — count of cells in a milk sample including individual counts of somatic cells and individual leukocyte types.
  • d. thromboplastin time — used in differentiating the cause of hemophilia. Reagents containing either factor VIII or factor IX are added in the partial thromboplastin time test to demonstrate which factor corrects the prolonged clotting time.
Word Tutor: differential
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: n. - A bevel gear that permits rotation of two shafts at different speeds; A quality that sets an object apart from similar things; adj. - Relating to or showing a change.

Tutor's tip: The "differential" (the amount of difference) in their test scores was small, but the loser was "deferential" (marked by courteous yielding or respect) to the winner anyway.

Wikipedia: Differential
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Differential may refer to:

Contents

Medicine

  • Differential diagnosis refers to the characterization of the underlying cause of pathological states based on specific tests.

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
See also derivative, differential calculus.

Natural sciences and engineering

Social sciences

Other uses

The word differential is also used in many fields as an adjective to refer to differences, particularly those of a variable or continuous nature. Examples include differential hardening in metallurgy, differential rotation in astronomy, differential centrifugation in cell biology, differential scanning calorimetry in materials science, differential signalling in communications, differential algebra in mathematics, differential execution in computer science, and differential GPS technology.


Translations: Differential
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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - varierende, forskels-, differentiel, differentiale-, differential-
n. - forskel, lønforskel, renteforskel, differential, differentialfunktion

idioms:

  • differential calculus    differentialregning
  • differential equation    differentialligning
  • differential gear    drabanthjul, differentiale

Nederlands (Dutch)
differentiaal, differentieel(-), loonklasseverschil

Français (French)
adj. - différentiel
n. - écart, (Math) différentielle, écart salarial, (Aut) différentiel

idioms:

  • differential calculus    calcul différentiel
  • differential equation    équation différentielle
  • differential gear    engrenage différentiel

Deutsch (German)
n. - Differential, Wechselgetriebe, Differenz
adj. - unterscheidend, unterschiedlich, Differential-

idioms:

  • differential calculus    Differentialrechnung
  • differential equation    Differentialgleichung
  • differential gear    Wechselgetriebe

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (μηχαν.) διαφορικό, μισθολογική διαφορά
adj. - διαφορικός

idioms:

  • differential calculus    (μαθημ.) διαφορικός λογισμός
  • differential equation    (μαθημ.) διαφορική εξίσωση
  • differential gear    (μηχαν.) διαφορικό

Italiano (Italian)
differenziale

idioms:

  • differential calculus    calcolo differenziale
  • differential equation    equazione differenziale
  • differential gear    differenziale

Português (Portuguese)
n. - diferencial (m)
adj. - diferencial

idioms:

  • differential calculus    cálculo (m) diferencial
  • differential equation    equação (f) diferencial
  • differential gear    engrenagem (f) do diferencial

Русский (Russian)
дифференциал, дифференциальный

idioms:

  • differential calculus    дифференциальное исчисление
  • differential equation    дифференциальное уравнение
  • differential gear    дифференциальная передача

Español (Spanish)
adj. - diferencial, constituyendo la diferencia
n. - diferencial, diferencia cuantitativa

idioms:

  • differential calculus    cálculo diferencial
  • differential equation    ecuación diferencial
  • differential gear    diferencial

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - differentiering
adj. - differentiell

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
差别的, 微分的, 特定的, 差别, 差动齿轮, 微分

idioms:

  • differential calculus    微分学
  • differential equation    微分方程, 微分
  • differential gear    差速齿轮

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 差別的, 微分的, 特定的
n. - 差別, 差動齒輪, 微分

idioms:

  • differential calculus    微分學
  • differential equation    微分方程, 微分
  • differential gear    差速齒輪

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 독특한, 미분의, 차이의
n. - 미분, 운임 차이, 협정 임률차

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 差, 賃金格差, 微分
adj. - 相違を示す, 差別的な, 微分の, 特異な

idioms:

  • differential calculus    微分学
  • differential equation    微分方程式
  • differential gear    差動装置

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الاختلاف بين كميتين من شئ وبخاصه النقود, التفاضل, التفاوت (صفه) تفاضلي, تبايني, تفاوتي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮שונה, נוגע להפרש קטן עד אין סוף (מתמטיקה), מהווה הבדל מסוים או קשור אליו‬
n. - ‮שוני, דיפרנציאל, הפרשיות, הבדל, הבדל קטן עד אין-סוף בין שני ערכים רצופים של משתנה‬


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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Investment Dictionary. Copyright ©2000, Investopedia.com - Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Banking Dictionary. Dictionary of Banking Terms. Copyright © 2006 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Answers Corporation Antonyms. © 1999-2009 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
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