Parameter

A value that is already "built in" to a function. 

Example: if a function that works out the height of a tree is h(year) = 20 × year, then "year" is a variable and "20" is a parameter.

Parameters can be changed so that the function can be used for other things. 

Example: A different tree might have a growth rate of 30 cm per year, and its function would be h(year) = 30 × year

We could even make it more general by writing

h(age; rate) = rate × age

and in this case a semicolon (;) is used to separate the variable(s) from the parameters(s)

See: Variable

Definition of

Constantmore ...

Definition of

Variablemore ...

A symbol for a number we don't know yet. It is usually a letter like x or y.

Example: in x + 2 = 6, x is the variable.

A fixed value. 

In Algebra, a constant is a number on its own, or sometimes a letter such as

a, b or c to stand for a fixed number. 

Example: in "x + 5 = 9", 5 and 9 are constants

If it is not a constant it is called a variable.

Full Definition of ARBITRARY CONSTANT

mathematics

:  a symbol to which various values may be assigned but which remains unaffected by the

changes in the values of the variables of the equation

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What is the difference between a constant, arbitrary constant and a parameter? I always get confused among the three, please explain clearly and if possible using examples. 

Thanks!

Best Answer

Count23 answered 6 years ago

Constant is just a value, a fixed value that doesn't change. 

And arbitrary constant is a value that is fixed throughout multiple functions you pick for ease of calculations. 

A parameter is a limit of sorts on a function or the solutions to a problem. 

Constant: g = gravitational acceleration constant on earth = 9.8 m/s^2, this is a constant because it never changes. 

C = constant of the anti-derivative of a function, the C does not have a fixed value, instead you can pick any value for it but once you do, you must stick with that value throughout a problem. 

sin(t) ; 0<t<2pi ; t is a parameter where it can not be below zero or above 2pi.

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