\begin{definition}[Definition:Formal Derivative of Polynomial]
Let $R$ be a ring.
Let $R \left[{X}\right]$ be the polynomial ring over $R$.
Let $f = a_0 + a_1 X + \cdots + a_n X^n \in R \left[{X}\right]$.
The '''formal derivative''' $f'$ of $f$ is the polynomial:
:$f' \left({X}\right) = a_1 + 2 a_2 X + \cdots + n a_n X^{n-1}$
Category:Definitions/Polynomial Theory
\end{definition}