Talk:parameter

RFV discussion: April–October 2017

This entry has survived Wiktionary's verification process (permalink).

Please do not re-nominate for verification without comprehensive reasons for doing so.

---

parameter

Rfv-sense "(mathematics, physics) A variable kept constant during an experiment, calculation or similar.". If I wanted to test the effect of temperature on conductivity, I would change the temperature between miniexperiments to receive more useful data. I added a definition below that I feel better encapsulates my understanding of the word, but I'm not confident.__Gamren (talk) 10:32, 20 April 2017 (UTC)

I think this definition works in math. For example, the parameters in a parametric equation of line (e.g. $<x,y,z>=<0,s,t>$, where $s,t$ are parameters) are kept constant if you are solving for a particular point on the line. — justin(r)leung _{{ (t...) | c=› }} 16:49, 20 April 2017 (UTC)

While that's true, it hardly seems the defining aspect of the parameters. It is closer to definition given for computer programmes - perhaps a better definiton would be a variable in an equation which defines a family of equations that, when assigned, results in a particular member or subset of that family. Kiwima (talk) 19:25, 20 April 2017 (UTC)

I have tweaked the definition and cited this. Kiwima (talk) 23:25, 18 October 2017 (UTC)

RFV-passed — This unsigned comment was added by Kiwima (talk • contribs) at 03:43, 26 October 2017.

Plain English definition

One doesn't wish to risk appearing narky, but I am no wiser as to the meaning of "parameter".

Of course, I could enter one, but I'm here precisely because I don't really know. — This unsigned comment was added by Lyphatma (talk • contribs).

@Lyphatma: What's the context that made you look up the word? How would you improve the entry? – Jberkel 13:54, 3 July 2022 (UTC)