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In english, we generally use phrases like "take the derivative", "find the derivative", "evaluate the derivative", but we also use verbs such as "derivate", "derive", "differentiate", etc. What are the common phrases used say it in spanish? Does it vary much from country to country?

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2 Answers

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In Spain we use "calcular la derivada" or "obtener la derivada".

How to take derivatives? -> ¿Cómo calcular derivadas?

An exam question may be something like:

Find the derivative of the function f(x) = x^2. -> Calcule la derivada de la función f(x) = x^2.

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6  
it's also possible to say "derivar", like: "Deriva/Derive la función f(x)=x^2" – Javi Jul 19 '12 at 9:38
Cierto. ese uso también es muy común. Se me ha pasado incluirlo. – cgc Jul 19 '12 at 13:07
No se ha oido "diferenciar"? – Paul Jul 19 '12 at 14:44
@Javi: have you ever heard 'sacar la derivada'? – Paul Jul 21 '12 at 5:23
2  
@Paul yes it's very common to say "sacar la derivada". You can use any verb in front of la derivada which means to get/ to calculate or something similar. Relating to "diferenciar" I have never seen using that verb in Maths. It would be for calculating "la diferencial". El diferencial y la derivada it's not the same though they are closely related: todoexpertos.com/categorias/ciencias-e-ingenieria/matematicas/… – Javi Jul 21 '12 at 8:59
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up vote 2 down vote

Just "derivar":

"Calcula la derivada de f(x)" "Deriva f(x)" "Deriva la función f con respecto a x" ...

"Derivar" has the same meaning as "Calcula la derivada" (in a mathematical context).

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