nonconstructive
- adjective
- /ˌnɒn.kənˈstrʌk.tɪv/
- Formal
:
no constructivo
- The mathematician presented a nonconstructive proof that did not give an explicit solution.
Examples
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Some logical arguments are nonconstructive and only show that a solution must exist.
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A nonconstructive approach can be useful when finding an example is too difficult.
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The professor emphasized the importance of nonconstructive proofs in mathematics.
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Many students find nonconstructive arguments difficult to understand.
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The mathematician presented a nonconstructive proof that did not give an explicit solution.
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Some logical arguments can be nonconstructive as they only demonstrate that a solution exists.
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A nonconstructive approach is often necessary in theoretical mathematics where explicit examples are unavailable.
Antonyms
How Constructive
144
3.9
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
nonconstructive = constructive (semi-transparent) = non + construct + ive
Morphologically a straightforward negation of 'constructive', but the meaning relies on a technical mathematical sense of 'constructive' that learners may not know.
Etymology
The word nonconstructive comes from non- meaning 'not' and construct meaning 'to build', the same root as construction. In math, a nonconstructive proof shows that something exists but does not 'build' or give a clear example, so it proves the result without showing how to make the thing.