Engineering English
Partial Derivative
Engineering Fundamentals · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A derivative of a function of multiple variables with respect to one variable while holding the others constant. It quantifies the rate of change of the function in a specific coordinate direction.
Example in context
“To compute the stress gradient in the beam, the structural engineer evaluated the partial derivative of the displacement field with respect to the x-coordinate.”
“Kirişteki gerilme gradyanını hesaplamak için yapı mühendisi, yer değiştirme alanının x koordinatına göre kısmi türevini değerlendirdi.”
Where engineers use it
Partial derivatives are fundamental in multivariable calculus used in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and elasticity. An engineer uses them to compute gradients, set up systems of PDEs, and perform sensitivity analyses in design optimization.
Practice: can you use “Partial Derivative” at work?
A chemical engineer models the concentration of a pollutant in a river with spatial and temporal dependencies. They need to find the rate of change along the river direction. Which mathematical operation do they perform?
Show a model answer
“Take the partial derivative of the temperature function with respect to time.”
“Partial Derivative” in 21 languages
| English | Partial Derivative |
|---|---|
| Turkish | kısmi türev |
| French | dérivée partielle |
| German | partielle Ableitung |
| Spanish | derivada parcial |
| Chinese | 偏导数 |
| Arabic | مشتق جزئي |
| Portuguese | derivada parcial |
| Russian | частная производная |
| Japanese | 偏微分 |
| Italian | derivata parziale |
| Vietnamese | đạo hàm riêng |
| Hindi | आंशिक अवकलज |
| Thai | อนุพันธ์ย่อย |
| Indonesian | turunan parsial |
| Korean | 편미분 |
| Bengali | আংশিক অন্তরজ |
| Dutch | partiële afgeleide |
| Swedish | partiell derivata |
| Finnish | osittaisderivaatta |
| Ukrainian | часткова похідна |
Frequently asked questions
What does Partial Derivative mean in engineering?
A derivative of a function of multiple variables with respect to one variable while holding the others constant. It quantifies the rate of change of the function in a specific coordinate direction. In Engineering Fundamentals, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Partial Derivative?
Partial Derivative is pronounced /ˈpɑːrʃəl dɪˈrɪvətɪv/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Partial Derivative used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “To compute the stress gradient in the beam, the structural engineer evaluated the partial derivative of the displacement field with respect to the x-coordinate.”
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