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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
translation icon : 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
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.