Tuesday, 10 May 2011

soft question - What are the most overloaded words in mathematics?

-ary



-ary, as in $k$-ary numeral $s$, refers to the number $k$ of values in the domain $K = lbrace 0, 1, ldots, k-1 rbrace$ that affords the basis of numeration.



-ary, as in $k$-ary relation $L$, refers to the number of domains $X_1, ldots, X_k$ for which $L subseteq X_1 times ldots times X_k$.



-ary, as in $k$-ary operation $f$, refers to the number of domains in the domain of the function $f : X_1 times ldots times X_k to Y$, the rubric being, "a $k$-ary operation is a $(k+1)$-ary relation".



Some writers use Greek roots and the Greek suffix "-adic" for the number of domains in a relation, hence medadic, monadic, dyadic, triadic for relations of 0, 1, 2, 3 places, respectively. This usage actually has a degree of historical precedence and it can serve to sidestep conflicts with the domainance of binary numerals in our modern world, but of course the wrinkle but moves to other domains where writers are adicted to other habits.



NB. All puns are intended.

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