backward difference operator

backward difference operator

[¦bak·wərd ¦dif·rəns ′äp·ə‚rād·ər] (mathematics) A difference operator, denoted ∇, defined by the equation ∇ƒ(x) = ƒ(x) - ƒ(x-h), where h is a constant denoting the difference between successive points of interpolation or calculation.