Mathematics Stack Exchange
Mathematics Stack Exchange

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.

8534 questions
5
votes
0 answers

Terminology: order vs. degree (in general)

The word degree comes from Latin degradus (through French), which means something like step down. The word order comes from Latin ordinem (through French too), which means row,rank. Is there a reason why orders are called orders in maths and…
anderstood
  • 3,504
4
votes
2 answers

How to say the angle modulo $2\pi$

For any number $x$, there exists a unique number $y$ such that the difference $y-x$ is a integral multiple of the number $2\pi$, and that $y\in[0,2\pi)$. Is there a single word or a single wording to express the number $y$? I mean, some word of the…
kwgl
  • 118
4
votes
1 answer

Seeking proper terminology

Consider $\qquad a = b^2 \pmod c$. Are there special "names" for $a$ and/or $b$? I mean something like '$b$ is a modular root of $a$' or similar.
jnml
  • 193
4
votes
1 answer

Why “Syracuse” in “Syracuse problem”

Is “Syracuse” in “Syracuse problem” (a variant name of Collatz conjecture) a reference to the city of Syracuse in Sicily, to one of several Syracuses in USA or something else (a person's name, for instance)?
DaG
  • 486
4
votes
0 answers

Is there a name for the function $\log{(x)}(1 − x)-\log{(1 − x)}x$?

I was experimenting with different ways of understanding numbers in the range [0, 1], especially the extreme values, and came up with the function $\log{(x)}(1 − x)-\log{(1 − x)}x$. It has the nice property that it approaches logarithmic behavior…
Tim has moved to Codidact
  • 141
4
votes
1 answer

What is meant by determined here?

A plane in space is determined by knowing a point on the plane and its "tilt" or orientation. This "tilt" is defined by specifying a vector that is perpendicular or normal to the plane. What is meant by the term "determined" here?
Izaki Mohamed
  • 43
4
votes
1 answer

What does "a gradient of 1 on $\hat y$" mean?

Chapter 8.7 of the Deep Learning Book says "Suppose our cost function has put a gradient of 1 on $\hat y$ …" Does it mean the derivative of the cost function w.r.t $\hat y$ is equal to 1? For example, my model has 2 hidden layers and 1 output layer,…
JakeMZ
  • 281
4
votes
4 answers

Does "Let" imply existence?

Many years ago I kept trying to explain a proof to professor. Each time I started the proof saying "Let x be..." the professor would interrupt with "what do you mean by let?" I came to believe what they meant is when you use "Let" you are asserting…
lamlame
  • 349
4
votes
2 answers

Looking for the English term for rewriting an equation to express a variable

If I rewrite an equation $$\sqrt{a} + b = 10$$ to $$a = 100 - 20b + b^2,$$ how would I call that transformation to explicitly express $a$?
justAnovice
  • 41
4
votes
2 answers

What does w.l.g mean?

My lecturer has abbreviated something and I can't find what it is. Here is how it has come up in my notes: Lemma: In any integral domain, $p$ prime $\implies p$ irreducible. Proof: Suppose $p$ is prime and $p = ab$. w.l.g $p \mid b$. So $cp = b$…
Kaish
  • 6,126
4
votes
4 answers

What is a constant?

The word "constant" is used in such expressions as "The derivative of a constant is $0$." What does it mean? (I will post my own answer here, but I'm sure lots of others can have fun with their own answers.) PS: I'd have thought this was obvious,…
Michael Hardy
  • 1
4
votes
1 answer

Does a half-diagonal of a rectangle have a mathematical name?

Your simplest math question of the day---but I really want to know! Is there a name for the half-diagonal of a rectangle?
markE
  • 249
4
votes
3 answers

Is it mathematically wrong to say "infinite number"?

I often hear the phrase "an infinite number of..." in mathematics. Is this phrase mathematically ungrammatical, since infinity is not a "number"? I'm sure some people will say that whether this phrase is right or wrong is a matter of opinion or…
WillG
  • 6,585
4
votes
2 answers

Meaning of "-oid" in mathematical concepts?

Some mathematical concepts are ended with "-oid", such as Matroid, greedoid, groupoid. What does that mean? Do these concepts share something in common? Thanks!
Tim
  • 47,382
4
votes
1 answer

Meaning of sharp upper bound

I am confused about what a "sharp" upper bound means. I have already seen this question asked elsewhere (linked) but it does not answer my question: What does it mean when a bound is sharp? The main question that I have is: Is a "sharp" upper…
diff2
  • 125
1 2 3
…
49 50