calculus of finite differences

noun

1. the branch of mathematics dealing with the application of techniques similar to those of differential and integral calculus to discrete rather than continuous quantities.

Example Sentences

Boole’s landmark book The Laws of Thought appeared in 1854, laying out rules of logic and their application to probability, and was followed by books on differential equations and the calculus of finite differences. 

From Scientific American

Cal′culose, stony or like stone: gritty: affected with stone or with gravel.—Calculus of finite differences not merely does not consider differentials, but does not assume continuity.—Differential calculus, a method of treating the values of ratios of differentials or the increments of quantities continually varying; Integral calculus, the summation of an infinite series of differentials.

From Project Gutenberg

I hope you do, too. calculus, finite diferences, Gathering for Gardner, polynomials October 04 Numberplay: Calculus for the Second Grader A set of puzzles that play with a simple way to do some elementary calculus: the Calculus of Finite Differences.

From New York Times

The well-known Treatise on Differential Equations appeared in 1859, and was followed, the next year, by a Treatise on the Calculus of Finite Differences, designed to serve as a sequel to the former work.

From Project Gutenberg