What exactly is a differential? - Mathematics Stack Exchange The right question is not "What is a differential?" but "How do differentials behave?" Let me explain this by way of an analogy Suppose I teach you all the rules for adding and multiplying rational numbers Then you ask me "But what are the rational numbers?" The answer is: They are anything that obeys those rules Now in order for that to make sense, we have to know that there's at least
What actually is a differential? - Mathematics Stack Exchange I am a bit confused about differentials, and this is probably partly due to what I find to be a rather confusing teaching approach (I know there are a bunch of similar questions around, but none o
Partial derivative of a differential form - Mathematics Stack Exchange Given a differential form on a manifold $\alpha$, does it makes sense to have its partial derivative $\partial_ {\mu}\alpha$? According to my understanding the only sensible derivative on the space of differential form is the exterior derivative $\text {d}$ so $\partial_ {\mu}\alpha$ as such is not a well defined object