Summary

1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 14… (1911)

The differential of a dependent variable such as y, or of a function of the independent variable x, is the product of the differential of x and the differential coefficient or derived function. It is important to observe that the differential coefficient is not to be defined as the ratio of differentials, but the ratio of differentials is to be defined as the previously introduced differential coefficient. The differentials are either finite differences, or are so much of certain finite differences as are useful for forming differential coefficients.
Source: Wikisource

1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 14… (1911)

The artifice consists in rejecting ab initio all terms of the equation which belong to R. We do not form R at all, but only φ.Δx, or φ.dx, which is the differential dy. In the same way, in all applications of the integral calculus to geometry or mechanics we form the element of an integral in the same way as the element of area y.dx is formed.
Source: Wikisource

1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 14… (1911)

In accordance with this notion we may say that the fundamental artifice of the infinitesimal calculus consists in the rejection of small quantities of an unnecessarily high order. This artifice is now merely an incident in the conduct of a limiting process, but in the 17th century, when limiting processes other than the Greek methods for quadratures were new, the introduction of the artifice was a great advance.
Source: Wikisource

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature