# Third derivative

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In calculus, a branch of mathematics, the third derivative is the rate at which the second derivative, or the rate of change of the rate of change is changing. The third derivative of a function y=f(x) can be denoted by

$\frac{d^3y}{dx^3},\quad f'''(x),\quad\text{or }\frac{d^3}{dx^3}[f(x)].$

Other notations can be used, but the above are the most common.

## Mathematical definitions

Let $f(x)=x^4$. Then $f'(x)=4x^3$, and $f''(x)=12x^2$. Therefore, the third derivative of f(x) is, in this case,

$f'''(x)=24x$

or, using Leibniz notation,

$\frac{d^3}{dx^3}[x^4]=24x$

Now for a more general definition. Let $f(x)$ be any function of x. Then the third derivative of $f(x)$ is given by the following:

$\frac{d^3}{dx^3}[f(x)]=\frac{d}{dx}[f''(x)]$

The third derivative is the rate at which the second derivative (f''(x)) is changing.

## Applications in physics

Main article: Jerk (physics)

In physics, particularly kinematics, jerk is defined as the third derivative of the position function of an object. It is basically the rate at which acceleration is changing. In mathematical terms:

$\bold{j}(t)=\frac{d^3\bold{r}}{dt^3}$

where j(t) is the jerk function with respect to time, and r(t) is the position function of the object with respect to time.

## Economic example

President Richard Nixon, when campaigning for a second term in office announced that the rate of increase of inflation was decreasing, which has been noted as "the first time a sitting president used the third derivative to advance his case for reelection."[1] Since inflation is itself the negation of a derivative—the rate at which the purchasing power of money decreases—then the rate of increase of inflation is the derivative of inflation, or the negation of the second derivative of the function of purchasing power of money with respect to time. Stating that a function is decreasing is equivalent to stating that its derivative is negative, so Nixon's statement is that the second derivative of inflation—or the negation of the third derivative of purchasing power—is negative. Thus, Nixon's statement is that the third derivative of the purchasing power is positive.

Nixon's statement allowed for the rate of inflation to increase, however, so his statement was not as indicative of economic growth as it sounds.

## References

1. Rossi, Hugo (October 1996). "Mathematics Is an Edifice, Not a Toolbox". Notices of the American Mathematical Society 43 (10): 1108. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
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