Definition of Indetirminate

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.

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