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To describe this simple with a little pseudocode (i'm better with software than mathematical notation, sorry):

f(x) = if (x <= 50%) then 0 else 1

This with a graph:

 100% |            x     x
  50% |
   0% | x   x      
      |___________________
        0%  33%   66%  100%

How would you describe this graph?

I'm trying to find the words to distinguish it from a flat linear graph:

 100% |
  50% | x    x    x    x  
   0% |
      |___________________
        0%  33%   66%  100%

and a non-flat linear graph

 100% |                     x
  75% |                x
  50% |           x     
  25% |      x
   0% | x
      |________________________
        0%  25%  50%  75% 100%
max pleaner
  • 113
  • Piecewise constant is probably what you're looking for. That means that it is constant for various pieces, but the constants may be different. – Carl Schildkraut Sep 20 '16 at 03:39
  • I'd call it a step function, or a rounding function (except you're a bit less forgiving and round $50%$ down to $0%$). – Adriano Sep 20 '16 at 03:42

1 Answers1

2

A piecewise constant function (a.k.a step function) is one possibility for any graph that is constant (flat) on different pieces.

You may also be interested in characteristic functions (a.k.a. indicator functions).

Alexis Olson
  • 5,414