In mathematics, a derivation is a function on an algebra which generalizes certain features of the derivative operator. Specifically, given an algebra A over a ring or a field K, a K-derivation is a K-linear map that satisfies Leibniz's law: More generally, if M is an A-bimodule, a K-linear map that satisfies the Leibniz law is also called a derivation. The collection of all K-derivations of A to itself is denoted by DerK(A). The collection of K-derivations of A into an A-module M is denoted by . Derivations occur in many different contexts in diverse areas of mathematics. The partial derivative with respect to a variable is an R-derivation on the algebra of real-valued differentiable functions on Rn. The Lie derivative with respect to a vector field is an R-derivation on the algebra of differentiable functions on a differentiable manifold; more generally it is a derivation on the tensor algebra of a manifold. It follows that the adjoint representation of a Lie algebra is a derivation on that algebra. The Pincherle derivative is an example of a derivation in abstract algebra. If the algebra A is noncommutative, then the commutator with respect to an element of the algebra A defines a linear endomorphism of A to itself, which is a derivation over K. That is, where is the commutator with respect to . An algebra A equipped with a distinguished derivation d forms a differential algebra, and is itself a significant object of study in areas such as differential Galois theory. Properties If A is a K-algebra, for K a ring, and is a K-derivation, then If A has a unit 1, then D(1) = D(12) = 2D(1), so that D(1) = 0. Thus by K-linearity, D(k) = 0 for all . If A is commutative, D(x2) = xD(x) + D(x)x = 2xD(x), and D(xn) = nxn−1D(x), by the Leibniz rule. More generally, for any , it follows by induction that which is if for all , commutes with . For n>1, Dn is not a derivation, instead satisfying a higher-order Leibniz rule: Moreover, if M is an A-bimodule, write for the set of K-derivations from A to M. is a module over K. DerK(A) is a Lie algebra with Lie bracket defined by the commutator: since it is readily verified that the commutator of two derivations is again a derivation. There is an A-module (called the Kähler differentials) with