Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Differential operator
open-in-new
<p>In <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">mathematics</a>, a differential operator is an <a href="/facts/Operator_(mathematics)/1VWgEdjS">operator</a> defined as a function of the <a href="/facts/Derivative/7Ito70Dh">differentiation</a> operator. It is helpful, as a matter of notation first, to consider differentiation as an abstract operation that accepts a <a href="/facts/Function_(mathematics)/CdReEKCh">function</a> and returns another function (in the style of a <a href="/facts/Higher-order_function/VjnjGbpt">higher-order function</a> in <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a>). </p><p>This article considers mainly <a href="/facts/Linear_map/Q1PBKNVV">linear</a> differential operators, which are the most common type. However, non-linear differential operators also exist, such as the <a href="/facts/Schwarzian_derivative/acRAssYR">Schwarzian derivative</a>. </p>