Absolute differenceThe absolute difference of two real numbers and is given by , the absolute value of their difference. It describes the distance on the real line between the points corresponding to and . It is a special case of the Lp distance for all and is the standard metric used for both the set of rational numbers and their completion, the set of real numbers . As with any metric, the metric properties hold: since absolute value is always non-negative. if and only if . (symmetry or commutativity).
PiecewiseIn mathematics, a piecewise-defined function (also called a piecewise function, a hybrid function, or definition by cases) is a function defined by multiple sub-functions, where each sub-function applies to a different interval in the domain. Piecewise definition is actually a way of expressing the function, rather than a characteristic of the function itself. A distinct, but related notion is that of a property holding piecewise for a function, used when the domain can be divided into intervals on which the property holds.
Cubic functionIn mathematics, a cubic function is a function of the form that is, a polynomial function of degree three. In many texts, the coefficients a, b, c, and d are supposed to be real numbers, and the function is considered as a real function that maps real numbers to real numbers or as a complex function that maps complex numbers to complex numbers. In other cases, the coefficients may be complex numbers, and the function is a complex function that has the set of the complex numbers as its codomain, even when the domain is restricted to the real numbers.
Hurwitz's theorem (composition algebras)In mathematics, Hurwitz's theorem is a theorem of Adolf Hurwitz (1859–1919), published posthumously in 1923, solving the Hurwitz problem for finite-dimensional unital real non-associative algebras endowed with a positive-definite quadratic form. The theorem states that if the quadratic form defines a homomorphism into the positive real numbers on the non-zero part of the algebra, then the algebra must be isomorphic to the real numbers, the complex numbers, the quaternions, or the octonions.
Jean-Robert ArgandJean-Robert Argand (UKˈɑːrɡænd, USˌɑːrˈɡɑːn(d), ʒɑ̃ ʁɔbɛʁ aʁɡɑ̃; July 18, 1768 – August 13, 1822) was an amateur mathematician. In 1806, while managing a bookstore in Paris, he published the idea of geometrical interpretation of complex numbers known as the Argand diagram and is known for the first rigorous proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. Jean-Robert Argand was born in Geneva, then Republic of Geneva, to Jacques Argand and Eve Carnac. His background and education are mostly unknown.
SubadditivityIn mathematics, subadditivity is a property of a function that states, roughly, that evaluating the function for the sum of two elements of the domain always returns something less than or equal to the sum of the function's values at each element. There are numerous examples of subadditive functions in various areas of mathematics, particularly norms and square roots. Additive maps are special cases of subadditive functions.
Ultrametric spaceIn mathematics, an ultrametric space is a metric space in which the triangle inequality is strengthened to . Sometimes the associated metric is also called a non-Archimedean metric or super-metric. An ultrametric on a set M is a real-valued function (where R denote the real numbers), such that for all x, y, z ∈ M: d(x, y) ≥ 0; d(x, y) = d(y, x) (symmetry); d(x, x) = 0; if d(x, y) = 0 then x = y; d(x, z) ≤ max {d(x, y), d(y, z) } (strong triangle inequality or ultrametric inequality).
Piecewise linear functionIn mathematics and statistics, a piecewise linear, PL or segmented function is a real-valued function of a real variable, whose graph is composed of straight-line segments. A piecewise linear function is a function defined on a (possibly unbounded) interval of real numbers, such that there is a collection of intervals on each of which the function is an affine function. (Thus "piecewise linear" is actually defined to mean "piecewise affine".
Ordered ringIn abstract algebra, an ordered ring is a (usually commutative) ring R with a total order ≤ such that for all a, b, and c in R: if a ≤ b then a + c ≤ b + c. if 0 ≤ a and 0 ≤ b then 0 ≤ ab. Ordered rings are familiar from arithmetic. Examples include the integers, the rationals and the real numbers. (The rationals and reals in fact form ordered fields.) The complex numbers, in contrast, do not form an ordered ring or field, because there is no inherent order relationship between the elements 1 and i.
