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Questions tagged [terminology]

Questions on the usage and meaning of words in mathematics, the names for mathematical entities, and other such questions.

Terminology is a discipline that studies, among other things, the development of terms and their interrelationships. This tag is intended to be used for questions on the usage and meaning of words in mathematics, the names for mathematical entities, and other such questions.

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Terminology: rate of growth of $y$ when $y = \sqrt{x}$

If $y = x^2$, then $y$ grows quadraticaly with $x$, $y = \log x$, then $y$ grows logarithmicaly with $x$. How does $y$ depend on $x$ if $y = \sqrt{x}$?
Antoine
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What do we call this function? Softmax-like

Let $v$ : a $k$-dimensional vector of positive real values. The function is given by: $$ f(v)_i = \frac{v_i}{\sum_{j=1}^k v_j}$$ What is this function called? How does compare to the Softmax function? I was inspired by the Softmax function, but I…
reaffer
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Has a certain sequence a name and is there a formula to compute the general term?

The number that will keep increasing by X until its value is equal or more than Y and then it will be deducted by Y. The result from that deduction will be used as the new start number of increment. For example: The starting number is 0. X = 7,…
Krsnik195
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Is there a term for the union of disjoint intervals?

I know a set like $(a, b)$ with $a < b$ is an interval on the reals (in particular, this one happens to be an open interval on the usual topology on $\mathbb{R}$, but I'm not specifically interested in open intervals here). Consider a set like $S =…
Michael McGowan
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Do geometric series or geometric means relate in any way conceptually to geometry?

Just like I have always wondered whether there is a conceptual, not just etymological, relationship between the terms "linear algebra" and a "sigma algebra," (there isn't) I would like to know whether geometric series relate in any way to the notion…
Constantin
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Is there a specific name for a $[1,n]$ interval as compared to $[0,n]$?

Interval $[0,n]$ behaves quite differently to $[1,n]$ if values are used in multiplication, e.g. for scaling other values. Is there a formal terminology to distinguish those?
Andrey Shchekin
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How do I interpret this delta expression?

I'm trying to understand the following equation: I know that is delta and that it implies a difference between something. My current guess is that y is the delta between x and a * b, but my knowledge is limited so it's just a guess. I know []…
johnor999
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Is there a single word that refers to the length of either triangle's leg over the hypotenuse?

I don't mean arccos and arcsin, I mean a single word that would refer to both of them. Like, if I divide the length of either leg by the hypotenuse, is there a word that indicates the meaning of that number? Or maybe in terms of vector components…
SaganRitual
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Indefinite pronouns or definite pronouns in general definition of principal ideal?

I am uncertain whether I should use indefinite pronoun "a" or the definite pronoun "the" below. Could someone explain the choice here? I am trying to make a general definition for a principal ideal. A principal ideal, $I$, of a ring, $R$, is the…
hhh
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Terms for different dependent items contributing to a whole?

I have a calculation that involves a number of items. It produces a single value. However, I would like to also show how much each item contributed to the final score. The calculation is rather complex and different items can have synergies that…
RasmusKL
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Type of a total function where the first parameter is a partial function

Consider any partial function $f \colon \subseteq X \to Y$ for arbitrary sets $X,Y$. Now assume that a total function $g$ takes any such function $f$ as a first paramter and as a second parameter a natural number from $\mathbb N$ and returns an…
Max Maier
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What does mantissa mean here?

I was going through this SO post on Math.random() vs Random.nextInt(int) and encountered the following line : Random.nextDouble() uses Random.next() twice to generate a double that has approximately uniformly distributed bits in its mantissa, so…
Geek
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what do curly brackets mean in this number theory equation?

$$(\lfloor y\rfloor-1)(\lfloor x\rfloor-1)=\{x\}+\{y\}+1$$ From looking at the LaTeX, I can see the left-hand side symbols mean the floor of the variable, but the right-hand side doesn't give much clue. I thought it had no special meaning until I…
Jossie Calderon
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Term for a 'coefficient' used in multiple places.

Consider the case where I have a 'coefficient' $T$ such that: $f(x) = T(1 - e^{-x/T})$ What would you call this term? It's certainly being used as a 'coefficient', but its reciprocal is also being used in exponentiation. Most definitions I have…
Nate Diamond
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Genral solution vs Fundamental Solution to ODE. The Difference is?

I've been reading intros to ODE and the problem of terminology has overwhelmed me. As far as I understand: n-Parameter family of solutions to ODE is a solution in a form $c_1y_1+c_2y_2+...+c_ny_n$ singular solution to ODE is a solution which can't…
coobit
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