Firstly, and most simply, it may lead to another part of a problem or question or context.
Secondly, and importantlyest, (i just invented that word it means most importantly) It can be used to find the gradient of a curve.
As you may know, the gradient of a straight line is constant
y=mx+c the gradient is m
But for a curve, the gradient is always changing.
look at a graph of y=x2 and you will see that an infinite tangents make up the curve each with a different value for m.
In short, when you differentiate a function or equation, you get the gradient function, which allows you to find the gradient at any point on the graph y=f(x)
differentiate y=x2 (which is the same as find dy/dx)
dy/dx=2x
so the gradient on the curve y=x2 always 2 times the x value in question. At x=1 the gradient is 2. At x=2 the gradient is 4.
In mechanics, if you draw a graph of displacement against time for a moving object, the GRADIENT is equal to the function of velocity. Plot velocity against time and the gradient is equal to Acceleration against time.
In any circumstance where a curve is involved differentiation is needed to ind a gradient.
Phew, hope that helps and answers your question
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Pythagoras is born in 500 AD he is greek he make triangle problems for maths to make maths more boring
Because it had so many problems. It had all the answers, though!
There are 4 basic maths operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Try BBC Bitesize, It always helps me with my maths problems.