Fluent (mathematics)

A fluent is a time-varying quantity or variable.[1] The term was used by Isaac Newton in his early calculus to describe his form of a function.[2] The concept was introduced by Newton in 1665 and detailed in his mathematical treatise, Method of Fluxions.[3] Newton described any variable that changed its value as a fluent – for example, the velocity of a ball thrown in the air. The derivative of a fluent is known as a fluxion, the main focus of Newton's calculus. A fluent can be found from its corresponding fluxion through integration.[4]

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Calculus
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Specialized Fractional Malliavin Stochastic Variations
Miscellaneous Precalculus History Glossary List of topics Integration Bee Mathematical analysis Nonstandard analysis

Newton's introduction of the notions "fluent" and "fluxion" in his 1736 book