MathLiveForward difference approximation of the first derivative
Approximates the derivative of a function at a point by the slope of a secant line over a small step h forward from that point. It is the basic formula of the finite difference method and is used when the derivative cannot be computed exactly.
f'(x_0) \approx \frac{f(x_0 + h) - f(x_0)}{h}What the symbols mean
| the function being differentiated | |
| the point at which the derivative is approximated | |
| the step size, a small positive increment |
About this formula
- FieldMathematics
- TopicNumerical differentiation
- LevelUniversity
- Also calledforward difference formula, finite difference derivative, first derivative numerical approximation, forward difference quotient, numerical derivative, Finite-difference methods
- SourceWikidata Q1147751
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