What’s the difference between a derivative and differentiation in calculus?

Question

What’s the difference between a derivative and differentiation in calculus?

In: Mathematics

Answer 1

Fast example: f(x) = x^2.

The derivative is df/dx = 2x, the *expression* for the rate of change of f with respect to x.

Differentiation is the *process* you did to get it, where you multiply by the exponent and then reduce the exponent by one. So you use differentiation to obtain derivatives, just like you use integration to obtain integrals or you use baking to obtain a cake.