Question

What does derivated mean?

Answer 1

In the context of calculus, I think it means differentiated...

Explanation:

Given a function `f(x)`, if it is smooth enough we can derive another function `f'(x)` by the process called differentiation.

`f'(x) = lim_(h->0)(f(x+h)-f(x))/h`

The resulting function `f'(x)` is usually called the derivative of `f(x)`.

In other fields (e.g. chemistry) one product that has been derived from another may be called a derivate. By a common (American?) practice, nouns often turn into verbs, so instead of derive, you might say derivate, meaning to make something into a derivate.

If so, then derivated is the past participle of to derivate, i.e. it means derived.

So in the context of calculus derivated probably means the same as differentiated. That is: derived by a process of differentiation.

Personally I prefer differentiated, but perhaps the apparently synthetic word derivated may be helpful in order to distinguish it from other uses of differentiated or of derived.