degree of freedom
The term "degree of freedom" is crucial in various fields such as statistics, physics, and engineering, indicating the number of independent variables or ways a system can move or be configured.
Definition
C1Statistics
(technical, academic)The number of independent values that can vary in an analysis without breaking any constraints.
Example
- In a t-test, the degrees of freedom are calculated as the sample size minus one.
C1Physics
(technical, academic)The number of independent ways in which a system can move without violating any constraints.
Example
- A rigid body in space has six degrees of freedom: three for translation and three for rotation.
C1Mathematics
(technical, academic)The number of independent parameters needed to describe a system's state.
Example
- In a system of linear equations, the degrees of freedom are the number of variables minus the number of equations.
C1Engineering
(technical, academic)The number of independent movements (translations and rotations) a mechanical system can undergo.
Example
- A robotic arm with six joints has six degrees of freedom, allowing for complex movements.
C1Chemistry
(technical, academic)The number of independent variables, such as temperature and pressure, that can be altered without changing the number of phases in a system at equilibrium.
Example
- In a chemical equilibrium, the degrees of freedom determine how many conditions can be changed without shifting the balance.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "degree of freedom":