differentials Definition

the product of the derivative of a function of one variable by the increment of the independent variable

a sum of products in which each product consists of a partial derivative of a given function of several variables multiplied by the corresponding increment and which contains as many products as there are independent variables in the function

a difference between comparable individuals or classes; also : the amount of such a difference

a differential expression of the form X1dx1 + … + Xndxn where the X's are the partial derivatives of a function f(x1, …, xn) with respect to x1, …, xn respectively