Question

Does anyone a SIMPLE example of an arbitrary constant?

I've been looking for a few, but I keep getting confused, so can someone please give me a simple one?

Answer 1

an arbitrary constant .... is just some constant that doesnt need to be determined at this moment

Answer 2

@amistre64 Thanks, but do you have any example? Or could you explain this one: f(x)+k when f(x)=x+9×3, f(x)=x×6+9-3, and f(x)=x-32 for example, k is an arbitrary constant, because you add k to whatever function you have.

Answer 3

either the sites not decodinng the encoding, or its my laptop ... i get black diamonds with a ? in them

Answer 4

is this in calculus class by chance?

Answer 5

oh that is a multiplication sign

Answer 6

and no, this is a question that was supposed to be on my report for number systems

Answer 7

hmm, im thinking of how it is defined for a calculus course. so the context might change its meaning a little

Answer 8

ideally, an arbitrary constant allows us to define a 'family' of similar functions that differ only by a constant

Answer 9

right, is there any simple example of this?

Answer 10

outside of calculus, im not sure

Answer 11

that's okay, thanks though:)

Answer 12

an example, how simple it is i dunno

what are ALL the solutions to the equation y' = 2x?

well, y=x^2, or y=x^2+1 or y=x^2 + pi or y=x^2 + (some constant)

ALL the solutions will be of the form: y = x^2 + (some constant)

the constant is arbitrary as far as a general solution goes

Answer 13

other than that, idk :)

Answer 14

@amistre64 Thanks :)