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Without prethought, I mentioned in class once that the reason the symbol $\partial$ is used to represent the boundary operator in topology is that its behavior is akin to a derivative. But after reflection and some research, I find little support for my unpremeditated claim. Just sticking to the topological boundary (as opposed to the boundary of a manifold or of a simplicial chain), $\partial^3 S = \partial^2 S$ for any set $S$. So there seems to be no possible analogy to Taylor series. Nor can I see an analogy with the fundamental theorem of calculus. The only tenuous sense in which I can see the boundary as a derivative is that $\partial S$ is a transition between $S$ and the "background" complement $\overline{S}$.

I've looked for the origin of the use of the symbol $\partial$ in topology without luck. I have only found references for its use in calculus. I've searched through History of Topology (Ioan Mackenzie James) online without success (but this may be my poor searching). Just visually scanning the 1935 Topologie von Alexandroff und Hopf, I do not see $\partial$ employed.

I have two questions:

Q1. Is there a sense in which the boundary operator $\partial$ is analogous to a derivative? Q2. What is the historical origin for the use of the symbol $\partial$ in topology?

Thanks!

Addendum (2010). Although Q2 has not been addressed [was subsequently addressed by @FrancoisZiegler], it seems appropriate to accept one among the wealth of insightful responses to Q1. Thanks to all!