Definition:Derivative/Higher Derivatives/Third Derivative/Notation/Leibniz Notation

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Leibniz's Notation for Third Derivative

Leibniz's notation for the third derivative of a function $y = \map f x$ with respect to the independent variable $x$ is:

$\dfrac {\d^3 y} {\d x^3}$


Historical Note

Leibniz's notation for a derivative came at about the same time that the manuscript dated $29$th October $1675$ in which the notation for the integral had been devised.

At the same time he introduced the differential symbol $\d$.

Thus he was soon writing $\d x$, $\d y$, and $\dfrac {\d y} {\d x}$ soon followed.


In his $1684$ article Nova Methodus pro Maximis et Minimis, published in Acta Eruditorum, he casually drops the notation in place with very little explanation.