Generalizations of the derivative | Convex optimization | Variational analysis
Subderivative
In mathematics, the subderivative, subgradient, and subdifferential generalize the derivative to convex functions which are not necessarily differentiable. Subderivatives arise in convex analysis, the study of convex functions, often in connection to convex optimization. Let be a real-valued convex function defined on an open interval of the real line. Such a function need not be differentiable at all points: For example, the absolute value function f(x)=|x| is nondifferentiable when x=0. However, as seen in the graph on the right (where f(x) in blue has non-differentiable kinks similar to the absolute value function), for any x0 in the domain of the function one can draw a line which goes through the point (x0, f(x0)) and which is everywhere either touching or below the graph of f. The slope of such a line is called a subderivative (because the line is under the graph of f). (Wikipedia).
