AI engineering glossary · Calculus optimisation
What is symbolic differentiation?
Symbolic differentiation: Producing an exact algebraic formula for a derivative by applying calculus rules mechanically to an expression, as computer algebra systems like SymPy do. The results are exact but can grow enormously large for deep, nested functions.
Symbolic differentiation: an example
SymPy computes diff(x**2 * sin(x), x) and returns x**2*cos(x) + 2*x*sin(x).
Related terms
More Calculus optimisation terms
- Tangent line
- Taylor series
- Total derivative
- Trust region method
- Unconstrained optimisation
- Variance reduction
- Vector-Jacobian product
- Warm restarts
Where you learn it
Symbolic differentiation is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.