dy/dx : is the gradient of the tangent at a point on the curve y=f(x)

?y/?x : is the gradient of a line through two points on the curve y=f(x)
?y/?x is the gradient of the line between two ponts on the curve y=f(x) which ar
e close together
?y/?x is the gradient of the tangent through a point on the surface y=f(x,z,...)
in the direction of the x axis.