determine

Everyday

1. To find out or work out something exactly, often by measuring or calculating. tree →
2. To decide or control what will happen; to be the thing that causes a result. tree →
3. (formal) To make a firm decision to do something. tree →
4. (formal, exam) A command word: «Determine the value of x» means find it, usually with working shown. tree →
5. (casual) In everyday talk people say «work out», «figure out», «sort out» or «suss» instead; «it depends» replaces «it is determined by». tree →
6. (formal, law) «Determine» can mean to end or settle: «The court determined the matter.» tree →

In the lessons

Common in maths and science: «determine the value of x», «determine which is bigger». In everyday life, things like weather «determine» whether a game goes ahead. In the exam voice it heads long stiff questions: «Determine the aggregate quantity of…». In casual talk: «work out», «figure it out», «depends on». Phrases: determine whether, determine the cause, be determined to, determined by.

Examples

• Determine the perimeter of a square with sides of 5 cm. tree →
• Use the table to determine which class collected more cans. tree →
• The weather will determine whether we play outside. tree →
• Your effort determines how well you do. tree →
• The judge must determine who is telling the truth. tree →
• She was determined to finish the race. tree →
• Scientists measured the water to determine how hot it was. tree →
• Determine how many groups of 4 you can make from 20. tree →
• Determine the aggregate quantity of apples, given that 3 baskets each contain 8. (formal exam) tree →
• work out how many 4s go into 20, quick (casual, the same idea) tree →
• depends on the weather innit, if it rains no footy (casual) tree →
• Don't just sit there, figure it out — it's 5, you numpty. (rough) tree →
• The three widows die, but their mother, "an old witch," determines on revenge. tree →

Note

Regular verb: determined. «Determined» as an adjective means having a strong will («a determined girl»). In maths «determine» just means «find» and does not tell you which operation to use; read the rest of the question. «Determined by» means «depends on». Same family of exam words: ascertain, compute, establish, evaluate. Trap: «she was determined» is about will, not maths.

In Jewish tradition

Common in maths and science: «determine the value of x», «determine which is bigger». In everyday life, things like weather «determine» whether a game goes ahead. In the exam voice it heads long stiff questions: «Determine the aggregate quantity of…». In casual talk: «work out», «figure it out», «depends on». Phrases: determine whether, determine the cause, be determined to, determined by.

Examples

• Thus far. it has been impossible to determine tiic ago and authorship of tlic Sefer Yetzirah. .Tcwish tradition claims divine origin for it: it was intrusted by tlie Lord to Adam and after- wards to Abraham***). (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Regular verb: determined. «Determined» as an adjective means having a strong will («a determined girl»). In maths «determine» just means «find» and does not tell you which operation to use; read the rest of the question. «Determined by» means «depends on». Same family of exam words: ascertain, compute, establish, evaluate. Trap: «she was determined» is about will, not maths.