| 17 | Introduction to Derivatives |
The relationship between a quantity and its rate of change can provide shortcuts in calculating. These rates, called derivatives, are sometimes the only way to find an accurate result. In this chapter, you’ll learn how rates of change can be determined by a technique called differentiation.
RATES OF CHANGE
To start understanding the basic principle behind differentiation, consider a car traveling along a highway. The rate at which it moves along the highway is its speed. If the direction is also specified, or if the car moves in a straight line, speed can be called velocity. In contrast, acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes. When the speed increases, the acceleration is positive; when the speed ...
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