Indeterminate quantity

Indeterminate quantity
Indeterminate In`de*ter"mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. --Paley. [1913 Webster]

{Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which has for its object the solution of indeterminate problems.

{Indeterminate coefficients} (Math.), coefficients arbitrarily assumed for convenience of calculation, or to facilitate some artifice of analysis. Their values are subsequently determined.

{Indeterminate equation} (Math.), an equation in which the unknown quantities admit of an infinite number of values, or sets of values. A group of equations is indeterminate when it contains more unknown quantities than there are equations.

{Indeterminate inflorescence} (Bot.), a mode of inflorescence in which the flowers all arise from axillary buds, the terminal bud going on to grow and sometimes continuing the stem indefinitely; -- called also {acropetal inflorescence}, {botryose inflorescence}, {centripetal inflorescence}, and {indefinite inflorescence}. --Gray.

{Indeterminate problem} (Math.), a problem which admits of an infinite number of solutions, or one in which there are fewer imposed conditions than there are unknown or required results.

{Indeterminate quantity} (Math.), a quantity which has no fixed value, but which may be varied in accordance with any proposed condition.

{Indeterminate series} (Math.), a series whose terms proceed by the powers of an indeterminate quantity, sometimes also with indeterminate exponents, or indeterminate coefficients. -- {In`de*ter"mi*nate*ly} adv. -- {In`de*ter"mi*nate*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Indeterminate — In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which has for its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indeterminate analysis — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indeterminate coefficients — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indeterminate equation — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indeterminate inflorescence — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indeterminate problem — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indeterminate series — Indeterminate In de*ter mi*nate, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. [1913 Webster] {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quantity — [kwänt′ə tē] n. pl. quantities [ME quantite < OFr < L quantitas < quantus, how great < quam, how, how much < IE interrogative base * kwo > WHO, WHAT] 1. an amount; portion 2. any indeterminate bulk, weight, or number 3. the… …   English World dictionary

  • indeterminate — ► ADJECTIVE 1) not exactly known, established, or defined. 2) Mathematics (of a quantity) having no definite or definable value. DERIVATIVES indeterminacy noun indeterminately adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • Indeterminate (variable) — In mathematics, more precisely in algebra, an indeterminate is a quantity that is not known, and cannot be solved for. An indeterminate is different from a variable, which is solvable, at least conditionally, from a given equation or set of… …   Wikipedia

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