Looks like my previous post isn't 100% correct.
differentiate: a verb to mean find the derivative of
derivative: a noun
differential: a noun, in itself meaning an infinitesimal change in a variable, written as d(something)
Note: I might be wrong.. differential might mean dy only, where y=f(x) (with dx not being a differential)
differential equation: any equation containing differential
So dy=2dx is a differential eqn, and dy/dx=2 is also a differential equation.
But one thing I'm sure is that if the derivative of y=2x is "2", the differential of y=2x is definitely not "2", it's likely to be "2dx" (assuming you can say "differential of y=2x".
Regarding differential equation:
dy/dx=2 tells the instantaneous *rate* at which y is changing per 1 unit change in x... like instantaneous velocity being the rate of change of displacement per 1 unit change in time
dy=2dx tells the *amount* of change in y when x changes by dx (remembering dx is a quantity.. probably 0.000000000000000000000000000000001 units).
differential coefficient... now this one is interesting coz ive never seen it in any papers (not that ive seen the word "differential" on any HSC papers)... where did you find it?
but it means the derivative.
for example, if you have y=2x, the differential equation can be written as dy=2dt, and the coefficient on the RHS is 2.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong ^_^