Parameter vs Estimate - What's the difference?
parameter | estimate |
(mathematics, physics) A variable kept constant during an experiment, calculation or similar.
(programming) An input variable of a procedure definition, that gets an actual value (argument) at execution time (formal parameter) .
(programming) An actual value given to such a formal parameter (argument or actual parameter) .
A characteristic or feature that distinguishes something from others.
(geometry) In the ellipse and hyperbola, a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate.
(crystallography) The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane.
(crystallography) The fundamental axial ratio for a given species.
A rough calculation or guess.
(construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job will probably cost.
* {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
, title=Well Tackled!
, chapter=3 To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
* {{quote-book, year=1965, author=Ian Hacking, title=Logic of Statistical Inference, passage=I estimate that I need 400 board feet of lumber to complete a job, and then order 350 because I do not want a surplus, or perhaps order 450 because I do not want to make any subsequent orders.
* '>citation
To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.
* John Locke
* J. C. Shairp
As nouns the difference between parameter and estimate
is that parameter is a variable kept constant during an experiment, calculation or similar while estimate is a rough calculation or guess.As a verb estimate is
to calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.parameter
English
Alternative forms
* parametreNoun
(en noun)- Roughly, a tuple of arguments could be thought of as a vector, whereas a tuple of parameters''' could be thought of as a covector (i.e., linear functional). When a function is called, a '''parameter tuple becomes "bound" to an argument tuple, allowing the function instance itself to be computed to yield a return value. This would be roughly analogous to applying a covector to a vector (by taking their dot product (or, rather, matrix-product of row vector and column vector)) to obtain a scalar.
- The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the latus rectum.
Usage notes
* (the value used to instantiate the name) Some authors regard use of parameter'' to mean ''argument'' as imprecise, preferring that ''parameter'' refers only to the name that will be instantiated, and ''argument to refer to the value that will be supplied to it at runtime.Synonyms
* (value passed to a function) argument * (characteristic distinguishing something from others) distinguishing feature * See alsoDerived terms
* actual parameter * formal parameterSee also
* variableExternal links
* * ----estimate
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic)Noun
(en noun)citation, passage=“They know our boats will stand up to their work,” said Willison, “and that counts for a good deal. A low estimate from us doesn't mean scamped work, but just that we want to keep the yard busy over a slack time.”}}
Synonyms
* estimation * appraisalDerived terms
* ballpark estimateVerb
citation
- It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them.
- It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living.
