In this context, a(x) represents a specific function that we want to find the derivative for. It's typically written as "f(x)" but can be represented by any letter followed by "(x)".
Think of "a" as an abbreviation for "apple". So when we see "a(x)", we can think of it as representing an apple tree where x represents time. We want to find out how many apples grow on that tree over time (the rate of change).
Function: A mathematical rule that assigns each input value (x) to exactly one output value (a). In this case, our function is represented by "a(x)".
Dependent Variable: The variable (in this case, 'a') whose value depends on another variable ('x').
Independent Variable: The variable ('x') whose value determines the value of the dependent variable ('a').
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