indeterminate

Everyday

1. Indeterminate means not exactly known, fixed or clear; vague. tree →
2. (maths) An indeterminate answer or form is one that cannot be worked out as a single value from the information given. tree →
3. (law) An indeterminate sentence is a prison sentence with no fixed end date. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life «a man of indeterminate age» means you cannot tell how old he is. In maths, a problem is indeterminate when there are many possible answers, for example x + y = 10 with no other clue. In science, an indeterminate colour or shape is hard to name. In stories it adds mystery.

Examples

• He was a man of indeterminate age, maybe forty or sixty. tree →
• The dog was a brown of indeterminate shade. tree →
• The meeting will last an indeterminate time. tree →
• With one equation and two unknowns, the answer is indeterminate. tree →
• The judge gave an indeterminate sentence. tree →
• A creature of indeterminate shape moved in the fog. tree →

Note

Formal. In maths, «indeterminate» means more than one answer is possible or the value cannot be fixed. Compare indeterminable (cannot be found out).

In Jewish tradition

In everyday life «a man of indeterminate age» means you cannot tell how old he is. In maths, a problem is indeterminate when there are many possible answers, for example x + y = 10 with no other clue. In science, an indeterminate colour or shape is hard to name. In stories it adds mystery.

Examples

• Contrary to the prevailing opinion, I believe that the Pythag- oreans regarded the Zero, 0, as the second element which was called the infinite, indeterminate duality, infinite binary, etc. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Formal. In maths, «indeterminate» means more than one answer is possible or the value cannot be fixed. Compare indeterminable (cannot be found out).