Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Indeterminate?

\In`de*ter"mi*nate\, a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. --Paley. {Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis which has for its object the solution of indeterminate problems. {Indeterminate coefficients} (Math.), coefficients arbitrarily assumed for convenience of calculation, or to facilitate some artifice of analysis. Their values are subsequently determined. {Indeterminate equation} (Math.), an equation in which the unknown quantities admit of an infinite number of values, or sets of values. A group of equations is indeterminate when it contains more unknown quantities than there are equations. {Indeterminate inflorescence} (Bot.), a mode of inflorescence in which the flowers all arise from axillary buds, the terminal bud going on to grow and sometimes continuing the stem indefinitely; -- called also {acropetal, botryose, centripetal, & indefinite inflorescence}. --Gray. {Indeterminate problem} (Math.), a problem which admits of an infinite number of solutions, or one in which there are fewer imposed conditions than there are unknown or required results. {Indeterminate quantity} (Math.), a quantity which has no fixed value, but which may be varied in accordance with any proposed condition. {Indeterminate series} (Math.), a series whose terms proceed by the powers of an indeterminate quantity, sometimes also with indeterminate exponents, or indeterminate coefficients. -- {In`de*ter"mi*nate*ly} adv. -- {In`de*ter"mi*nate*ness}, n.