What is a Delta in Math? 

The delta symbol in math can represent a number, function, set or equation. It was derived from the Phoenician letter dalet and is a popular symbol in mathematics. 

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In algebra, the upper case delta (D) is often used to represent the discriminant of a polynomial equation, usually the quadratic. A discriminant provides information about the quadratic’s roots. 

This is particularly useful for finding the slope of a graph or finding a function’s derivative. A delta is also sometimes used as a unit of measure, as when the slope of a line is dx/dy. 

A delta in mathematics is also sometimes referred to as a difference, but it’s not always the same thing. It may mean the change in a variable, or it might refer to a ratio of two variables. 

Lower-case delta (d) can have a more specific function in advanced mathematics, like kronecker delta, which indicates a relationship between two integral variables, with 1 representing if the variables are equal and 0 if they’re not. However, most students will never have to worry about these meanings for delta until they’re much further along in their studies. 

The epsilon-delta definition of a limit is an algebraically precise formulation that evaluates the limit L of a function at a particular point x0. It states that if x tends or approaches to c, then the corresponding value y is within a certain tolerance level of L. 

In geometry, lower-case delta (d) can represent an angle in any geometric shape. This is because geometry has its roots in Euclid’s work of ancient Greece, and mathematicians marked angles with Greek letters. 

The delta in mathematics has several more meanings, including the use of a delta as a unit of measurement, a difference, and even the discriminant of a polynomial formula. A delta is also an important symbol in calculus, where it can be used to calculate the slope of a graph or determine a function’s derivative.