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Partial Derivatives

For a one variable function, it is easy to interpret what is meant by ``rate of change.'' If the function is f(x), then $\frac{df}{dx}$ is the slope, or rate of change, of the graph of f at a point. There is a problem with this interpretation when we speak of functions of more than one variable. ``Derivative'' still means ``rate of change'' but now we can speak of a rate of change with respect to several different variables.