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Proportional vs Relative - What's the difference?

proportional | relative |

As adjectives the difference between proportional and relative

is that proportional is at a constant ratio (to) two magnitudes (numbers) are said to be proportional if the second varies in a direct relation arithmetically to the first while relative is connected to or depending on something else; comparative.

As a noun relative is

someone in the same family; someone connected by blood, marriage, or adoption.

proportional

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • At a constant ratio (to). Two magnitudes (numbers) are said to be proportional if the second varies in a direct relation arithmetically to the first.
    • Quotation
  • :* The stopping distance is proportional to the square of the speed of the vehicle. — "How Far Will It Skid" at physicsclassroom.com.
  • In proportion (to), proportionate. More common in US than UK.
    • Quotation
  • :* ...how much of the Bush administration's immediate post-9/11 emphasis on Iraq was appropriate and proportional to the overall picture of terrorism — retrieved 24 Jan 2005.

    • Related terms

    * directly proportional * inversely proportional

    relative

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Connected to or depending on something else; comparative.
  • * 2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “ Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, BBC Sport:
    • For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places.
  • Expressed in relation to another item, rather than in complete form.
    • ''The relative URL /images/pic.jpg, when evaluated in the context of http&
  • x3A;//example.com/docs/pic.html, corresponds to the absolute URL http://example.com/images/pic.jpg.
  • (grammar) That relates to an antecedent.
  • (music) Having the same key but differing in being major or minor.
  • Relevant; pertinent; related.
    • relative to your earlier point about taxes, ...
  • Capable to be changed by other beings or circumstance; conditional.

    • Synonyms

    * comparative * conditional * limited

    Antonyms

    * absolute * unlimited

    Related terms

    * relatively * relativity * relativize * relativization

    Derived terms

    * relative to

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone in the same family; someone connected by blood, marriage, or adoption.
    • Why do my relatives always talk about sex?
  • (linguistics) A type of adjective that inflects like a relative clause, rather than a true adjective, in certain Bantu languages.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * relate * relation * relationship * relativism * relativity

    See also

    * aunt * brother * cousin * father * godparent * grandchild * granddaughter * grandson * great-grandchild * great-grandparent * in-law * mother * niece * nephew * parent * refer * referral * sister * stepdaughter * stepson * uncle

    Anagrams

    * ----