How this calculator works
The engine evaluates central differences at progressively smaller steps and applies Richardson refinement to reduce leading truncation error.
Formula
f′(x) ≈ Richardson-refined central differencesEstimates the derivative of a supported expression at a point using symmetric finite differences and refinement.
Worked example
Derivative of x³ at 2 is a verified test case used by the calculation engine.
Assumptions and limitations
- This is a numerical derivative, not symbolic differentiation.
- The expression must be finite in a neighborhood of the evaluation point.
- Supported functions include sin, cos, tan, exp, ln, log, sqrt and abs.
Methodology & sources
This calculator uses deterministic, versioned calculation logic. The formula and verified examples above are part of the calculation definition used by CalcuMint.
- CalcuMint deterministic numerical-calculus engine — Versioned central-difference derivative with Richardson refinement.
Frequently asked questions
Does this return a symbolic derivative?
No. It estimates the derivative value at the requested point using the certified numerical engine.
Can I enter arbitrary JavaScript?
No. Expressions use a restricted mathematical grammar and allowlisted functions.
