In mathematics, the directional derivative of a multivariate differentiable function along a given vector v at a given point x intuitively represents the instantaneous rate of change of the function, moving through x with a velocity specified by v. It therefore generalizes the notion of a partial derivative, in which the rate of change is taken along one of the coordinate curves, all other coordinates being constant.
The directional derivative is a special case of the Gâteaux derivative.
Read more about Directional Derivative: Definition, In Differential Geometry, Normal Derivative, In The Continuum Mechanics of Solids
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