Other Definitions
del (dict)
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DelIn vector calculus, del is a vector differential operator represented by the symbol . This symbol is sometimes called the nabla operator, after the Greek word for a kind of harp with a similar shape (with related words in Aramaic and Hebrew). (Another, less-common name is Atled, because it is a reversed Delta.) It is a shorthand for the vector: -
{\partial / \partial x} \\ {\partial / \partial y} \\ {\partial / \partial z} \end{pmatrix} The symbol was introduced by William Rowan Hamilton. The operator can be applied to scalar fields () or vector fields (), to give: Gradient:> | | | bull; Divergence: | | | bull; Curl: | | | bull; Laplacian: | | In differential geometry, the nabla symbol is also used to refer to a connection. See also Further reading - Div, Grad, Curl, and All That, H. M. Schey, ISBN 0-393-96997-5
- Jeff Miller, Earliest Uses of Symbols of Calculus (Aug. 30, 2004).
- Cleve Moler, ed., "History of Nabla", NA Digest 98 (Jan. 26, 1998).
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