directional derivative

noun

A function which measures the rate of change of some other function at any point in a particular direction; formally, the directional derivative of a scalar function f( mathbf x)=f(x_1,x_2,…,x_n) along a vector mathbf v=(v_1,…,v_n) is the function ∇_(mathbf v)f defined by the limit ∇_(mathbf v)f( mathbf x)= lim _(h→0)(f( mathbf x+h mathbf v)-f( mathbf x))/h.

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Meanings

noundirectional derivative (plural directional derivatives)

plural directional derivatives

  1. calculusA function which measures the rate of change of some other function at any point in a particular direction; formally, the directional derivative of a scalar function f( mathbf x)=f(x_1,x_2,…,x_n) along a vector mathbf v=(v_1,…,v_n) is the function ∇_(mathbf v)f defined by the limit ∇_(mathbf v)f( mathbf x)= lim _(h→0)(f( mathbf x+h mathbf v)-f( mathbf x))/h.

Translations

Bulgarian производна по направление
  • производна по направление (proizvodna po napravlenie)Translations
French dérivée directionnelle
  • dérivée directionnelleTranslations
Italian derivata direzionale
  • derivata direzionaleTranslations
Polish pochodna kierunkowa
  • pochodna kierunkowaTranslations
Portuguese derivada direcional
  • derivada direcionalTranslations
Spanish derivada direccional
  • derivada direccionalTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

directional derivative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/directional%20derivative

MLA

“directional derivative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/directional%20derivative. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “directional derivative,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/directional%20derivative.

Source: directional derivative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.