Variable

A Variable is an Abstract Entity that can Represent one or more Values of a Variable Domain.

• Context:
  • It must have a Variable Domain
  • It can be:
    • a Independent Variable
    • a Dependent Variable.
  • It can be
    • a Function Variable(Function Parameter).
    • a Formula Variable.
  • It can be, based on its Variable Domain:
    • a Boolean Variable.
    • a Categorical Variable.
    • an Ordinal Variable.
    • a Numeric Variable.
  • It can have Variable Members.
  • It can be a Set Member of a Variable Set.
  • It can be:
    • a Defined Variable/Bound Variable.
    • an Undefined Variable/Unbound Variable.
  • It can be an Operand to an Operation (Parameter).
• Example(s):
  • a Mathematical Variable (from a Mathematical Sentence).
  • a Programming Variable (from a Computer Program).
  • The variable X for function Y spans all positive integers.
• See: Attribute, Variability, Variance.

References

2009

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable
  • A variable is an attribute of a physical or an abstract system which may change its value while it is under observation. ...
  • The use of the term "variable" is based on the similar mathematical concept of the same name.
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/variable
  • variable (plural variables)
    • 1. something that is variable
    • 2. something whose value may be dictated or discovered: There are several variables to consider here.
    • 3. (mathematics) a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values
    • 4. (mathematics) a symbol representing a variable
    • 5. (programming) a named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read it them
    • 6. (astronomy) a variable star
  • Synonyms
    • (something that is variable): changeable
    • (mathematics: a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values): variable quantity
  • Antonyms
    • (something that is variable): constant, invariable
• wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
  • variability - the quality of being subject to variation
  • variability - unevenness: the quality of being uneven and lacking uniformity
• en.wiktionary.org/wiki/variability
  • variability - the state or characteristic of being variable; the degree to which a thing is variable
• http://planetmath.org/encyclopedia/Variable.html
  • The word variable as used in mathematics (and in other scientific fields that use mathematics) is somewhat vague and may have different meanings depending on the context. Variables are usually denoted by a single Roman or Greek letter, e.g. $ x$, although sometimes a whole word or phrase can be used also. Here is a list of some of the meanings of variable:
• CYC Glossary http://www.cyc.com/cycdoc/ref/glossary.html
  • variable: One type of term. Variables appear in CYC® rules to stand for not-known-in-advance constants that satisfy the formula of the rule. Variables also are used in formulas given to the ASK utility, to stand for the results the asker wishes to find. For more information about variables, click here.