Δ
Delta Symbol (Δ)
The uppercase Greek letter Delta (Δ) is used across math and science to denote changes, difference operations, or algebraic discriminants.
Mathematical Definition & Usage
Change / Difference & Discriminant
In calculus and physics, $\Delta x$ represents the change in value of $x$. In quadratic equations $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$, the uppercase Delta represents the discriminant: $\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$, which indicates the number and type of roots.
Example Formula
The rate of change / slope of a straight line is calculated as:
m = \frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x} = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}