First order approximation: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:46, 22 October 2003

Revision as of 09:38, 8 November 2003

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'''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 pointspoint]]s) will be a straight [[line]] with a [[slope]]. For example,

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