In mathematics, value may refer to several, strongly related notions.
In general, a mathematical value may be any definite
mathematical object
A mathematical object is an abstract concept arising in mathematics.
In the usual language of mathematics, an ''object'' is anything that has been (or could be) formally defined, and with which one may do deductive reasoning and mathematical p ...
. In
elementary mathematics
Elementary mathematics consists of mathematics topics frequently taught at the primary or secondary school levels.
In the Canadian curriculum, there are six basic strands in Elementary Mathematics: Number, Algebra, Data, Spatial Sense, Fina ...
, this is most often a
number
A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The original examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth. Numbers can be represented in language with number words. More universally, individual numbers can ...
– for example, a
real number
In mathematics, a real number is a number that can be used to measure a ''continuous'' one-dimensional quantity such as a distance, duration or temperature. Here, ''continuous'' means that values can have arbitrarily small variations. Every r ...
such as or an
integer
An integer is the number zero (), a positive natural number (, , , etc.) or a negative integer with a minus sign (−1, −2, −3, etc.). The negative numbers are the additive inverses of the corresponding positive numbers. In the language o ...
such as 42.
* The value of a
variable or a
constant is any number or other mathematical object assigned to it.
* The value of a
mathematical expression
In mathematics, an expression or mathematical expression is a finite combination of symbols that is well-formed according to rules that depend on the context. Mathematical symbols can designate numbers ( constants), variables, operations, fu ...
is the result of the computation described by this expression when the variables and constants in it are assigned values.
* The value of a
function, given the value(s) assigned to its
argument
An argument is a statement or group of statements called premises intended to determine the degree of truth or acceptability of another statement called conclusion. Arguments can be studied from three main perspectives: the logical, the dialectic ...
(s), is the quantity assumed by the function for these argument values.
[
]
For example, if the function is defined by , then assigning the value 3 to its argument yields the function value 10, since .
If the variable, expression or function only assumes
real
Real may refer to:
Currencies
* Brazilian real (R$)
* Central American Republic real
* Mexican real
* Portuguese real
* Spanish real
* Spanish colonial real
Music Albums
* ''Real'' (L'Arc-en-Ciel album) (2000)
* ''Real'' (Bright album) (2010) ...
values, it is called real-valued. Likewise, a complex-valued variable, expression or function only assumes
complex value
In mathematics, a complex number is an element of a number system that extends the real numbers with a specific element denoted , called the imaginary unit and satisfying the equation i^= -1; every complex number can be expressed in the form ...
s.
See also
*
Value function The value function of an optimization problem gives the value attained by the objective function at a solution, while only depending on the parameters of the problem. In a controlled dynamical system, the value function represents the optimal pay ...
*
Value (computer science)
In computer science and software programming, a value is the representation of some entity that can be manipulated by a program. The members of a type are the values of that type.
The "value of a variable" is given by the corresponding mappin ...
*
Absolute value
In mathematics, the absolute value or modulus of a real number x, is the non-negative value without regard to its sign. Namely, , x, =x if is a positive number, and , x, =-x if x is negative (in which case negating x makes -x positive), an ...
*
Truth value
References
{{reflist
Elementary mathematics
nl:Reëel-waardige functie