Adjacent Words

Arbitrary constant definitions

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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Arbitrary Ar"bi*tra*ry, a. [L. arbitrarius, fr. arbiter: cf. F. arbitraire. See Arbiter.] 1. Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules; as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment. It was wholly arbitrary in them to do so. --Jer. Taylor. Rank pretends to fix the value of every one, and is the most arbitrary of all things. --Landor. 2. Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and therefore conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power. Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused licentiousness. --Washington. 3. Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and unforbearing; tyrannical; as, an arbitrary prince or government. --Dryden. Arbitrary constant, Arbitrary function (Math.), a quantity of function that is introduced into the solution of a problem, and to which any value or form may at will be given, so that the solution may be made to meet special requirements. Arbitrary quantity (Math.), one to which any value can be assigned at pleasure.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Constant Con"stant, n. 1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable. 2. (Math.) A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in countradistinction to variable. Absolute constant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all circumstances, as the number 10, or any numeral. Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all changes in the values of the variables.