Differential
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'''Differential''' may refer to:
==Medicine==
* [[Differential diagnosis]] refers to the characterization of the underlying cause of pathological states based on specific tests.
* Differential [[WBC]] count is the enumeration of each type of [[white blood cells]] either manually or using [[automated analyzer|automated analyzers]].
==Mathematics==
* [[Differential (calculus)]], multiple related meanings in calculus and differential geometry, such as an infinitesimal change in the value of a function
:* In traditional approaches to calculus, the [[differential (infinitesimal)|differential]] of a function represents an [[infinitesimal]] change in its value and employs the dx, dy, dt, symbols.
:* In [[differential geometry]], differentials represent the [[exterior derivative]]s of the [[coordinate system|coordinate functions]] on a [[differentiable manifold]].
* [[Cochain complex|Differential (coboundary)]], in homological algebra and algebraic topology, one of the maps of a cochain complex
* [[Differential cryptanalysis|Differential (cryptography)]], in differential cryptanalysis, a pair consisting of the difference, usually computed by [[exclusive or|XOR (exclusive or)]], between two plaintexts, and the difference of the corresponding ciphertexts
:''See also [[derivative]], [[differential calculus]].
==Natural sciences and engineering==
* [[Differential (mechanical device)]]. As part of a [[powertrain]], the device that allows each of the driving wheels to rotate at different speeds.
* [[Electronic Differential]], an electric motor controller which substitutes its mechanical counterpart with significant advantages in electric vehicle application.
* In [[electronics]], [[differential signaling]] applies to a method of transmitting electronic signals over a pair of wires to improve noise immunity.
==Social sciences==
* [[Semantic differential|Semantic]] and [[structural differential]]s in psychology
* A [[quality spread differential]] in finance
* [[Compensating differential]] in labor economics
==Other uses==
The word ''differential'' is also used in many fields as an adjective to refer to differences, particularly those of a [[variable]] or [[continuous function|continuous]] nature. Examples include [[differential hardening]] in metallurgy, [[differential rotation]] in astronomy, [[differential centrifugation]] in cell biology, [[differential scanning calorimetry]] in materials science, [[differential signalling]] in communications, [[differential algebra]] in mathematics, [[differential execution]] in computer science, and [[differential GPS]] technology.
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