What is the difference between differentiation and integration?

Answer 1

Differentiation involves determination of the slope, i.e. the derivative, of a function. The slope of a function at a point is a straight line that is tangent to that function at that point, and is the line defined by the limit of two points on the original curve, one of those two points being the point in question, as their distance between each other becomes zero. There are several things you can do with derivatives, not the least of which is aid in plotting functions and finding various minima and maxima.

Integration involves determination of the inverse-slope, i.e. the integral, of a function. The integral of a function is another function whose derivative is the first function. There are several things you can do with integrals, not the least of which is finding the area or volume under or in a curve or shape.