Calculus Terms

Get down with the lingo

Concavity

The concavity of a function describes whether the function is curving up, down or not curving at all.

Critical Point

The derivative of the function at the critical point is 0.

Inflection Point

The point (x-value) where the function changes concavity.

Implicit Differentiation

Differentiation of an equation in which the dependent variable doesn't have a side of the equation all to itself.

Derivative Of A Function

The derivative of f (x) measures how f (x) changes at a point x.

Minima

The largest value that a function takes within a given interval.

Maxima

The smallest value that a function takes within a given interval.

Local Extreme Point

The maximum and minimum points when the domain is restricted to a small neighborhood of x –values.

Global Extreme Point

The maximum and minimum points in the entire domain of the function.

Instantaneous Rate Of Change

Change in the function f (x) at a point x.

Secant Line

Line joining two points on the graph of a function.

Tangent Line

A line that touches the graph of a function f (x) at a point.

Differentiability

If the limit exists, the function f (x) is differentiable at x = a.