The Speed Riddle

[Yoruichi-san 116]

Expect to differentiate,

First, though, correlate,

Find the relation,

For the equation,

You may see there lurks,

Exponents at work,

Fairly quickly wrote,

From elegance remote,

Under extreme duress,

Frantic with stress,

Begotten this riddle was.

What am I?

[Rob_Gandy 2]

The derivative of x with respect to t? dx/dt

[Time Out 11]

feng shui

[Yoruichi-san 116]

Nay, it is neither of wind nor water though to both it may apply.

However....

Means there is a hidden device within the riddle itself that leads to the answer, and said device is hinted at by the riddle.

[Potok 7]

maybe a gearbox or a drive differencial ? prolly way too obvious

[TheChad08 14]

maybe a gearbox or a drive differencial ? prolly way too obvious

when I first read the riddle I thought of a speedometer, but I figured that would have been too easy.

[Yoruichi-san 116]

By 'device' I don't mean like a physical device, I mean 'device' like 'literary device', 'plot device', "left up to his own devices", etc. Basically a trick, if you will, that you must perform to the riddle or parts of the riddle itself.

[Time Out 11]

hair

[plainglazed 65]

gravity?

[Yoruichi-san 116]

Um...not sure how those were arrived at, but nay and nay to those who have for the answer sot, it seems the device has yet to be got.

Sorry, don't mean to be dismissive, but rhyming is so addictive!

[phaze 91]

Equals or equivalency calm the squalls of despondency?

[Yoruichi-san 116]

Nay once more, you have yet to score!

This was written pretty fast, so the device is something pretty straightforward, although it might require multiple steps

.

Also, seeing how much I like couplets, isn't it odd that the number of lines is just that...odd?

[Yoruichi-san 116]

'First'...yes, it's that simple...or is it? ;P

[Rob_Gandy 2]

acceleration?

[Yoruichi-san 116]

acceleration?

Not sure how you arrived at that, but nay...

'Differentiate' and 'exponent', taken together.

[Yoruichi-san 116]

Okay, in case anyone actually wants to solve this:

To make the previous hint more clear: what happens to an exponent when you differentiate?

Take that, and the first hint.

Now if you're still confused: read what you have out loud ;P

[Rob_Gandy 2]

the only thing that comes to mind looking at the hints is leading coefficient?

[Yoruichi-san 116]

For once there was a demon cat from seirentai,

In whom sprung a puzzle by and by,

Rampantly obscure,

Seldom demure,

To which one says e^(i*pi).

[Prof. Templeton 10]

For once there was a demon cat from seirentai,

In whom sprung a puzzle by and by,

Rampantly obscure,

Seldom demure,

To which one says e^(i*pi).

http://xkcd.com/179/

[Yoruichi-san 116]

Alright, for the sake of the next the series ever coming out:

Take the first letter of each line.

Look like gibberish to you? Well...

What happens when you differentiate an exponent? Do the same to each letter.

Still look like gibberish to you?

Read out loud.

[Yoruichi-san 116]

And we have a winner, ladies and gentlemen!

And what is dx/dt commonly referred to in laymen's terms as?

Edited January 18, 2013 by Yoruichi-san