Each of a set of finite differences calculated by subtracting the present value of a function f(x) from a new value when the argument x is increased by a small amount; frequently attributive.
Origin
1920s; earliest use found in Tracts for Computers.
Definition of forward difference in US English:
forward difference
noun
Mathematics
Each of a set of finite differences calculated by subtracting the present value of a function f(x) from a new value when the argument x is increased by a small amount; frequently attributive.
Origin
1920s; earliest use found in Tracts for Computers.