# Are there general circuits that differentiate/integrate empirically?

Is it possible to construct simple circuits, that given a time-varying input, produce an output that represents the derivative or integral of the input with respect to time?

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Is it necessary that the circuit is somehow made up of "simple" components? Otherwise, yes, computers can certainly do this. – David M. R. Jan 29 '13 at 3:51
Yes my initial edit of the question had (not computers) in brackets. I'm after a very simple circuit involving resistors, capacitors and transistors. I know "simple" is subjective, so I'm happy for one to find the simplest circuit they can that allows for this. – Mew Jan 29 '13 at 3:53
@DavidM.R., can computers do this without employing algorithms with discrete time steps? How? I'm after a non digital circuit that solves the differentiation/integration empirically and exactly. – Mew Jan 29 '13 at 3:55
Start browsing for Analog Computers on the internet. Try "en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_computer – DarenW Jan 29 '13 at 4:07