Let URnU\subseteq\mathbb R^n be open, let aUa\in U, and let f:URmf:U\to\mathbb R^m. The map ff is differentiable at aa if there is a linear map L:RnRmL:\mathbb R^n\to\mathbb R^m such that

limh0f(a+h)f(a)Lhh=0,\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{\|f(a+h)-f(a)-Lh\|}{\|h\|}=0,

where hh is small enough that a+hUa+h\in U, and \|\cdot\| is the .

The map LL, which is necessarily unique, is the Df(a)Df(a). In standard coordinates it is represented by the .

Examples
  • Any affine map f(x)=Ax+bf(x)=Ax+b is differentiable everywhere, with derivative Df(x)h=AhDf(x)h=Ah.
  • The map f:R2R3f:\mathbb{R}^2\to \mathbb{R}^3 given by f(x,y)=(x2,xy,siny)f(x,y)=(x^2,xy,\sin y) is differentiable everywhere.