First order approximation: Difference between revisions

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*#REDIRECT [[ZerothOrder orderof approximation]]

'''First order approximation''' (also 1^st order) is the term [[scientists]] use for a further [[educated guess]] at an answer. Some simplifying assumptions are made, and when a number is needed, an answer with only one [[significant figure]] is often given. A first order approximation of a [[function]] (that is, [[mathematically]] determining a [[formula]] to fit multiple [[data points]]) will be a straight [[line]] with a [[slope]]. For example,

:<math>x=[0,1,4]</math>

:<math>y=[0,1,2]</math>

:<math>y\sim f(x)=1.5*x</math>

is an approximate fit to the data.

''See also:''

*[[Zeroth order approximation]]

*[[Second order approximation]]

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