difference quotient
nounUK /ˈdɪfərəns ˈkwəʊʃənt/
US /ˈdɪfərəns ˈkwoʊʃənt/
A math formula that shows how much a function changes over a small step.
The teacher used the difference quotient to find the slope of the curve.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The expression [f(x+h)-f(x)]/h used to define the derivative.
Taking the limit of the difference quotient as h approaches zero gives the derivative.
3. A measure of how a quantity changes between two nearby points.
The difference quotient estimates the speed of a car over a short time interval.
4. A foundational concept in differential calculus for computing instantaneous rates.
Students learn the difference quotient before studying derivatives.