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Divergence vs Gradient - What's the difference?

divergence | gradient |

As nouns the difference between divergence and gradient

is that divergence is the degree to which two or more things diverge while gradient is a slope or incline.

As an adjective gradient is

moving by steps; walking.

divergence

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The degree to which two or more things diverge.
    • an angle is made by the divergence of straight lines
  • (mathematics) the operator which maps a function F''=(''F''1, ... ''F''''n'') from a ''n -dimensional vector space to itself to the number \sum_{i=1}^n \frac{\partial F_i}{\partial x_i}
  • (obsolete) disagreement; difference
  • * Sir G. C. Lewis
    • Related with some divergence by other writers.

    Synonyms

    * (mathematical operator) ** div **

    Antonyms

    * convergence

    Related terms

    * diverge * divergent

    References

    * OED2 ----

    gradient

    English

    Noun

    (en noun) (slope) (wikipedia gradient)
  • A slope or incline.
  • A rate of inclination or declination of a slope.
  • (calculus) Of a function y'' = ''f''(''x'') or the graph of such a function, the rate of change of ''y'' with respect to ''x''
    that is, the amount by which ''y'' changes for a certain (often unit) change in ''x
    equivalently, the inclination to the X axis of the tangent to the curve of the graph.
  • (science) The rate at which a physical quantity increases or decreases relative to change in a given variable, especially distance.
  • (analysis) A differential operator that maps each point of a scalar field to a vector pointed in the direction of the greatest rate of change of the scalar. Notation for a scalar field ?: ∇φ

    • Synonyms

    * (slope) hill, incline, ramp, slope * (in calculus) slope (of a line )

    Derived terms

    * gradient wind * ruling gradient * supergradient * temperature gradient

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Moving by steps; walking.
    • gradient automata
    (Wilkins)
  • Rising or descending by regular degrees of inclination.
    • the gradient line of a railroad
  • Adapted for walking, as the feet of certain birds.

    • Anagrams

    * * * * ----