different between indeterminate vs indefinite
indeterminate
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?nd??t??(?)m?n?t/
Adjective
indeterminate (comparative more indeterminate, superlative most indeterminate)
- Not accurately determined or determinable.
- Imprecise or vague.
- (mathematical analysis, of certain forms of limit) Not definitively or precisely determined, because of the presence of infinity or zero symbols used in any of several improper combinations.
- (biology, of growth) With no genetically defined end, and thus theoretically limitless.
- (botany, of inflorescences) Not topped with some form of terminal bud.
- Intersex.
- (architecture) Designed to allow the incorporation of future changes whose nature is not yet known.
- 2014, David Oakley, The Phenomenon of Architecture in Cultures in Change, page 196,
- It bears an affinity to the problem of indeterminate architecture—the indeterminate residential area.
- 2014, David Oakley, The Phenomenon of Architecture in Cultures in Change, page 196,
Synonyms
- indeterminant
Antonyms
- determinate
Derived terms
Related terms
- indeterminacy
Translations
Noun
indeterminate (plural indeterminates)
- (algebra, strict sense) A symbol that resembles a variable or parameter but is used purely formally and neither signifies nor is ever assigned a particular value;
(loose sense) a variable.- 1862, H. J. Stephen Smith, Report on the Theory of Numbers—Part III, Report of the 31st Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, British Association for the Advancement of Science, page 292,
- The form is linear, quadratic, cubic, biquadratic or quartic, quintic, &c., according to its order in respect of the indeterminates it contains; and binary, ternary, quaternary, &c., according to the number of its indeterminates. Thus is a binary quadratic form, is a ternary cubic form.
- 1892, Henry B. Fine, Kronecker and His Arithmetical Theory of the Algebraic Equation, Thomas S. Fiske, Harold Jacoby (editors), Bulletin of the New York Mathematical Society, Volume 1, New York Mathematical Society, page 179,
- Such a factor is therefore an integral function of and the indeterminates with coefficients belonging to the domain of rationality and may be represented by .
- 2006, Alexander B. Levin, Difference Algebra, M. Hazewinkel, Handbook of Algebra, page 251,
- Let and let be the polynomial -algebra in the set of indeterminates with indices from the set .
- 1862, H. J. Stephen Smith, Report on the Theory of Numbers—Part III, Report of the 31st Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, British Association for the Advancement of Science, page 292,
Usage notes
The distinction between indeterminate and variable when discussing, say, a polynomial, is often overlooked: an indeterminate is regarded as a type of variable. In fact, the distinction relates to the context: i.e., whether one is discussing a polynomial per se (a formal expression consisting of coefficients and indeterminates) or the function that the polynomial represents when the indeterminate is considered a variable. Moreover, some authors choose to use the terms indeterminate and variable interchangeably.
Translations
See also
- indefinite
- undetermined
Further reading
- Indeterminate equation on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- Indeterminate form on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- Formal power series on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Italian
Adjective
indeterminate
- feminine plural of indeterminato
Latin
Adjective
ind?termin?te
- vocative masculine singular of ind?termin?tus
References
- indeterminate in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
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indefinite
English
Etymology
From Late Latin ind?f?n?tus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?n?d?f?n?t/
- Hyphenation: in?def?i?nite
Adjective
indefinite (comparative more indefinite, superlative most indefinite)
- Without limit; forever, or until further notice; not definite.
- Vague or unclear.
- Undecided or uncertain.
- (mathematics) Being an integral without specified limits.
- (linguistics) Designating an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things
- the indefinite article
Synonyms
- (without limit): unlimited, unrestricted
- (vague or unclear): hazy; see also Thesaurus:indistinct or Thesaurus:vague
- (undecided or uncertain): indeterminate, unsettled, indecisive, unsure
- (an integral without specified limits):
- (designating an unspecified thing):
Derived terms
- indefinitely
- indefinite article
- indefiniteness
- indef
Related terms
- indeterminate
Translations
Noun
indefinite (plural indefinites)
- (grammar) A word or phrase that designates an unspecified or unidentified person or thing or group of persons or things.
Italian
Adjective
indefinite f pl
- feminine plural of indefinito
Latin
Adjective
ind?f?n?te
- vocative masculine singular of ind?f?n?tus
References
- indefinite in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- indefinite in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
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