difference quotient

English

Noun

difference quotient (plural difference quotients)

1. (mathematical analysis) The slope of a secant as obtained by dividing the vertical difference between two intersections of the secant and a curve with their horizontal distance. When the horizontal distance approaches zero the slope of the secant approaches the derivative of the curve.

Translations

slope of the secant

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 差商 (zh) (chāshāng)

• Danish: differenskvotient c
• Dutch: differentiaalquotiënt (nl) n
• Finnish: erotusosamäärä (fi)
• French: please add this translation if you can
• German: Differenzenquotient m
• Portuguese: please add this translation if you can

See also

• derivative
• difference equation