maximisation

Everyday

1. Making something as big, high or great as possible: «the maximisation of profit». tree →
2. (maths) Finding the largest possible value of something under some rules. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, maximisation problems ask, for example: what is the largest area of a field you can fence with 20 m of fence? (Answer: a 5 m by 5 m square gives 25 m².) In business and economics, «profit maximisation» means trying to earn as much money as possible. In science and engineering, people maximise efficiency or energy. It is a formal word. Opposite: «minimisation».

Examples

• The maths puzzle was about maximisation of the rectangle's area. tree →
• Profit maximisation is the main goal of many companies. tree →
• Maximisation of space helped fit all the books on the shelves. tree →
• The engineers worked on the maximisation of the battery's life. tree →
• In this game, maximisation of your score means collecting every coin. tree →
• Maximisation and minimisation are two sides of optimisation. tree →
• The farmer planned for maximisation of his crop. tree →
• A square gives maximisation of area for a fixed perimeter of a rectangle. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Formal. UK/Australia/NZ spelling «maximisation», US/Canada «maximization». Verb: maximise/maximize; adjective: maximum. In maths problems, maximisation means find the greatest value allowed by the rules (the constraints) – not infinity.