The Difference Between 𝑑, 𝛿, Δ and ∂ in Physics and Mathematics

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𝑑 (d)

The symbol 𝑑 (d) is a lowercase letter d that is often used in calculus to represent an infinitesimal change or derivative. It originated from the Latin word “differentia,” which means difference. For example, if we have a function f(x) = x², then the derivative of f(x) with respect to x is written as df/dx = 2x. Here, 𝑑 is used to indicate that we are taking the derivative of the function f(x) with respect to x.

The use of the symbol 𝑑 (d) can be traced back to the German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who developed the calculus notation in the late 17th century. Leibniz used a variety of symbols to represent derivatives, including d, Δy/Δx, and dy/dx. Over time, the symbol d became the most widely used for representing derivatives.

∂ (partial derivative symbol)

The symbol ∂ (partial derivative symbol) is used widely in calculus. It originated from the Latin word “partialis,” which means partial or pertaining to a part. The symbol is used to represent the rate of change of a function with respect to one of its variables, while holding all other variables constant. The symbol is often used in physics, engineering, and other fields where multi-variable functions are common. For instance, if we have a function f(x…