A word for an informed guess in mathematics, proved later to be the correct guess
I am looking for a single word, used in mathematics (but not exclusively), meaning to take a guess which will later be proved to be correct.
I believe it starts with an 'a', and I seem to remember it being something similar to alcantz, alcats, ancaltz, first hearing it used by a professor in a lecture.
Edit (to add an example sentence): An example sentence: "I solved the problem through the use of an (insert word)."
single-word-requests mathematics
asked 6 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
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packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I am looking for a single word, used in mathematics (but not exclusively), meaning to take a guess which will later be proved to be correct.
I believe it starts with an 'a', and I seem to remember it being something similar to alcantz, alcats, ancaltz, first hearing it used by a professor in a lecture.
Edit (to add an example sentence): An example sentence: "I solved the problem through the use of an (insert word)."
single-word-requests mathematics
asked 6 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
New contributor
packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Hi packetpacket, welcome to EL&U. You might not be aware that there are strict rules for single-word-requests: "To ensure your question is not closed as off-topic, please be specific about the intended use of the word. You must include a sample sentence demonstrating how the word would be used." You can add this using the edit link. For further guidance, see How to Ask, and make sure you also take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
6 hours ago
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
5 hours ago
add a comment |
I am looking for a single word, used in mathematics (but not exclusively), meaning to take a guess which will later be proved to be correct.
I believe it starts with an 'a', and I seem to remember it being something similar to alcantz, alcats, ancaltz, first hearing it used by a professor in a lecture.
Edit (to add an example sentence): An example sentence: "I solved the problem through the use of an (insert word)."
single-word-requests mathematics
asked 6 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
New contributor
packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I am looking for a single word, used in mathematics (but not exclusively), meaning to take a guess which will later be proved to be correct.
I believe it starts with an 'a', and I seem to remember it being something similar to alcantz, alcats, ancaltz, first hearing it used by a professor in a lecture.
Edit (to add an example sentence): An example sentence: "I solved the problem through the use of an (insert word)."
single-word-requests mathematics
single-word-requests mathematics
asked 6 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
New contributor
packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 6 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
New contributor
packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 4 hours ago
packetpacket
asked 6 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
New contributor
packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 6 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
asked 6 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
1084
New contributor
packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
packetpacket is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Hi packetpacket, welcome to EL&U. You might not be aware that there are strict rules for single-word-requests: "To ensure your question is not closed as off-topic, please be specific about the intended use of the word. You must include a sample sentence demonstrating how the word would be used." You can add this using the edit link. For further guidance, see How to Ask, and make sure you also take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
6 hours ago
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
5 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Hi packetpacket, welcome to EL&U. You might not be aware that there are strict rules for single-word-requests: "To ensure your question is not closed as off-topic, please be specific about the intended use of the word. You must include a sample sentence demonstrating how the word would be used." You can add this using the edit link. For further guidance, see How to Ask, and make sure you also take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
6 hours ago
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
5 hours ago
1
1
Hi packetpacket, welcome to EL&U. You might not be aware that there are strict rules for single-word-requests: "To ensure your question is not closed as off-topic, please be specific about the intended use of the word. You must include a sample sentence demonstrating how the word would be used." You can add this using the edit link. For further guidance, see How to Ask, and make sure you also take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
6 hours ago
Hi packetpacket, welcome to EL&U. You might not be aware that there are strict rules for single-word-requests: "To ensure your question is not closed as off-topic, please be specific about the intended use of the word. You must include a sample sentence demonstrating how the word would be used." You can add this using the edit link. For further guidance, see How to Ask, and make sure you also take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
6 hours ago
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
5 hours ago
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
5 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
The word you are looking for is ansatz, which is German (although used by English-speaking physicists and mathematicians).
Wikipedia: In physics and mathematics, an ansatz is an educated guess that is verified later by its results.)
answered 5 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
5 hours ago
Can we still use ansatz before we've verified it or if it turns out to be incorrect? e.g., I tried the anstatz $y=x^2$ but it did not work, or we are trying the ansatz $t=cos u$ but we haven't verified it yet.
– innisfree
1 hour ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The word you are looking for is ansatz, which is German (although used by English-speaking physicists and mathematicians).
Wikipedia: In physics and mathematics, an ansatz is an educated guess that is verified later by its results.)
answered 5 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
5 hours ago
Can we still use ansatz before we've verified it or if it turns out to be incorrect? e.g., I tried the anstatz $y=x^2$ but it did not work, or we are trying the ansatz $t=cos u$ but we haven't verified it yet.
– innisfree
1 hour ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The word you are looking for is ansatz, which is German (although used by English-speaking physicists and mathematicians).
Wikipedia: In physics and mathematics, an ansatz is an educated guess that is verified later by its results.)
answered 5 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
5 hours ago
Can we still use ansatz before we've verified it or if it turns out to be incorrect? e.g., I tried the anstatz $y=x^2$ but it did not work, or we are trying the ansatz $t=cos u$ but we haven't verified it yet.
– innisfree
1 hour ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The word you are looking for is ansatz, which is German (although used by English-speaking physicists and mathematicians).
Wikipedia: In physics and mathematics, an ansatz is an educated guess that is verified later by its results.)
answered 5 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
The word you are looking for is ansatz, which is German (although used by English-speaking physicists and mathematicians).
Wikipedia: In physics and mathematics, an ansatz is an educated guess that is verified later by its results.)
answered 5 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
answered 5 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
answered 5 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
answered 5 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
62.4k5117226
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
5 hours ago
Can we still use ansatz before we've verified it or if it turns out to be incorrect? e.g., I tried the anstatz $y=x^2$ but it did not work, or we are trying the ansatz $t=cos u$ but we haven't verified it yet.
– innisfree
1 hour ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
5 hours ago
Can we still use ansatz before we've verified it or if it turns out to be incorrect? e.g., I tried the anstatz $y=x^2$ but it did not work, or we are trying the ansatz $t=cos u$ but we haven't verified it yet.
– innisfree
1 hour ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
1 hour ago
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
5 hours ago
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
5 hours ago
Can we still use ansatz before we've verified it or if it turns out to be incorrect? e.g., I tried the anstatz $y=x^2$ but it did not work, or we are trying the ansatz $t=cos u$ but we haven't verified it yet.
– innisfree
1 hour ago
Can we still use ansatz before we've verified it or if it turns out to be incorrect? e.g., I tried the anstatz $y=x^2$ but it did not work, or we are trying the ansatz $t=cos u$ but we haven't verified it yet.
– innisfree
1 hour ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
1 hour ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
1 hour ago
add a comment |
packetpacket is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
packetpacket is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
packetpacket is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
packetpacket is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
Hi packetpacket, welcome to EL&U. You might not be aware that there are strict rules for single-word-requests: "To ensure your question is not closed as off-topic, please be specific about the intended use of the word. You must include a sample sentence demonstrating how the word would be used." You can add this using the edit link. For further guidance, see How to Ask, and make sure you also take the EL&U Tour :-)
– Chappo
6 hours ago
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
5 hours ago