[SciPy-user] derivative

[Stephen Walton]

Numerical derivatives are limited in accuracy by their very nature.  I 
don't know very much about Pade computations, I'm afraid,  But, if the 
code you need the derivative of is in C or Fortran, you might try one of 
the automatic differentation codes out there.  The basic idea is that, 
since any computation on a real computer is composed of elementary 
operations with analytic derivatives, repeated automatic application of 
the chain rule results in a derivative which is accurate to machine 
precision.  Of course, these codes will only produce a first or second 
derivative in my experience, not a sixth.  Do you need sixth derivatives?