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Glite Dictionary
📈 Not a straight line 🌀 Events out of order
nonlinearity

nonlinearity

1 8.1
In math or science, a situation where small changes cause big effects
  • noun
  • /ˌnɒnˈlɪnɪərɪti/
  • Specialized
: no linealidad
  • Prototype switches based on fiber nonlinearity are still in an early stage.
  • nonlinearity and viscoelasticity
  • material nonlinearity
  • saturable nonlinearities

At the moment, our machine learning systems largely work by building chains of weighted sums of real numbers with some nonlinearity.

Examples

  • In mathematics, nonlinearity can cause unexpected outcomes when the relationship between variables is not proportional.

  • Thus, material and geometric nonlinearities and viscoelasticity have been included in mechanical analyses of a number of soft tissues.

    Academic text (1996)

  • A linear model was used when there was no evidence of nonlinearity using a likelihood ratio test.

    Academic text (2018)

  • OK, so we found nonlinearity that is actually strong enough for nonlinear X-ray effects.

  • An important new limit to long-distance transmission is caused by the optical nonlinearity of the silica fiber.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The expected long-term behavior of the system is not straightforward when even the most elementary nonlinearities are introduced.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Note: The response variables were log transformed to account for potential nonlinearities and to improve adherence to normality assumptions.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The FEM considered the geometric and material nonlinearities and made detailed simulations on the stud-concrete interactions.

    Academic text (2018)

  • The scientists observed nonlinearity in the reaction rates as they altered the temperature and concentration of the reactants.

  • Understanding the nonlinearity in this mathematical model is crucial for predicting the behavior of the system accurately.

Synonyms

curvilinearity
vsnonlinearity
1 9.3

The quality of having lines that bend instead of being straight

is broader and covers non proportional relations as well as curved shapes

Antonyms

linearity
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A direct link where one thing changes at a steady rate as the other changes

How Linear

linearity
  • Specialized
1 5.6
nonlinearity
  • Specialized
1 8.1

Surface Forms

nonlinearity singular
nonlinearities plural

Morphology

nonlinearity = nonlinear (transparent) = non + linear + ity

The noun is formed by adding -ity to the adjective 'nonlinear', and the meaning 'not linear / not directly proportional' follows standard derivational rules.

Etymology

Nonlinearity comes from non- 'not' and linear from line 'a straight line'. In math and science a linear result is like a straight line where one thing changes directly with another, so nonlinearity means there is 'no straight line' and small changes can lead to big or surprising effects.