Calculus Basics (Derivatives, Gradients)

Summary

Derivatives measure how a function's output changes as its input changes — the mechanism every model uses to learn by adjusting weights to reduce error.

• 1Refresh derivative rules (power, product, quotient) with practice problems.
• 2Learn what a gradient is: the vector of partial derivatives pointing toward steepest increase.
• 3Connect derivatives to the intuition of 'which direction reduces the loss.'