Approximation

For the sound change, see Lenition. to involve rounding errors leading to approximation. Log
tables, slide rules and calculators produce approximate
answers to all but the simplest calculations. The results
An approximation is anything that is similar but not ex-
actly equal to something else. of computer calculations are normally an approximation
expressed in a limited number of signicant digits, al-
though they can be programmed to produce more pre-
cise results.[3] Approximation can occur when a decimal
1 Etymology and usage number cannot be expressed in a nite number of binary
digits.
The word approximation is derived from Latin approx-
Related to approximation of functions is the asymptotic
imatus, from proximus meaning very near and the pre-
value of a function, i.e. the value as one or more of a
x ap- (ad- before p) meaning to.[1] Words like approx-
functions parameters becomes arbitrarily large. For ex-
imate, approximately and approximation are used espe-
ample, the sum (k/2)+(k/4)+(k/8)+...(k/2^n) is asymptot-
cially in technical or scientic contexts. In everyday En-
ically equal to k. Unfortunately no consistent notation is
glish, words such as roughly or around are used with a
used throughout mathematics and some texts will use
similar meaning.[2]
to mean approximately equal and ~ to mean asymptoti-
The term can be applied to various properties (e.g., value, cally equal whereas other texts use the symbols the other
quantity, image, description) that are nearly, but not ex- way around.
actly correct; similar, but not exactly the same (e.g., the
As another example, in order to accelerate the conver-
approximate time was 10 o'clock).
gence rate of evolutionary algorithms, tness approxima-
Although approximation is most often applied to tionthat leads to build model of the tness function to
numbers, it is also frequently applied to such things as choose smart search stepsis a good solution.
mathematical functions, shapes, and physical laws.
In science, approximation can refer to using a simpler
process or model when the correct model is dicult to 3 Science
use. An approximate model is used to make calculations
easier. Approximations might also be used if incomplete
Approximation arises naturally in scientic experiments.
information prevents use of exact representations.
The predictions of a scientic theory can dier from ac-
The type of approximation used depends on the available tual measurements. This can be because there are factors
information, the degree of accuracy required, the sensi- in the real situation that are not included in the theory. For
tivity of the problem to this data, and the savings (usually example, simple calculations may not include the eect
in time and eort) that can be achieved by approximation. of air resistance. Under these circumstances, the theory
is an approximation to reality. Dierences may also arise
because of limitations in the measuring technique. In this
2 Mathematics case, the measurement is an approximation to the actual
value.
Approximation theory is a branch of mathematics, a The history of science shows that earlier theories and laws
quantitative part of functional analysis. Diophantine ap- can be approximations to some deeper set of laws. Un-
proximation deals with approximations of real numbers der the correspondence principle, a new scientic theory
by rational numbers. Approximation usually occurs when should reproduce the results of older, well-established,
an exact form or an exact numerical number is unknown theories in those domains where the old theories work.[4]
or dicult to obtain. However some known form may ex- The old theory becomes an approximation to the new the-
ist and may be able to represent the real form so that no ory.
signicant deviation can be found. It also is used when a Some problems in physics are too complex to solve by
number is not rational, such as the number , which often direct analysis, or progress could be limited by available
is shortened to 3.14159, or 2 to 1.414. analytical tools. Thus, even when the exact representa-
Numerical approximations sometimes result from using a tion is known, an approximation may yield a suciently
small number of signicant digits. Calculations are likely accurate solution while reducing the complexity of the

1
2 6 SEE ALSO

problem signicantly. Physicists often approximate the (U+2250, approaches the limit), which can be used
shape of the Earth as a sphere even though more accu- to represent the approach of a variable, y, to a limit;
rate representations are possible, because many physical like the common syntax, limxinf y(x) = 0
characteristics (e.g., gravity) are much easier to calculate
for a sphere than for other shapes.
Approximation is also used to analyze the motion of sev- 5 LaTeX Symbols
eral planets orbiting a star. This is extremely dicult due
to the complex interactions of the planets gravitational
eects on each other.[5] An approximate solution is ef- (\approx), usually to indicate approximation
fected by performing iterations. In the rst iteration, the between numbers, like 3.14 .
planets gravitational interactions are ignored, and the star (\simeq), usually to indicate asymptotic
is assumed to be xed. If a more precise solution is de- equivalence between functions, like f (n)
sired, another iteration is then performed, using the posi- 3n2 . So writing 3.14 would be wrong,
tions and motions of the planets as identied in the rst despite wide use.
iteration, but adding a rst-order gravity interaction from
each planet on the others. This process may be repeated (\sim), usually to indicate proportionality
until a satisfactorily precise solution is obtained. between functions, the same f (n) of the line
above will be f (n) n2 .
The use of perturbations to correct for the errors can yield
more accurate solutions. Simulations of the motions of
= (\cong), usually to indicate congruence be-
the planets and the star also yields more accurate solu- tween gures, like ABC = A B C .
tions.
The most common versions of philosophy of science ac-
cept that empirical measurements are always approxima- 6 See also
tionsthey do not perfectly represent what is being mea-
sured.
Approximately equals sign

Approximation error
4 Unicode
Congruence relation
See also: Unicode mathematical operators
Estimation
Symbols used to denote items that are approximately
equal are wavy or dotted equals signs.[6] Fermi estimate

(U+2248, almost equal to) Fitness approximation

(U+2243), a combination of "" and "=", also Least squares

used to indicate asymptotically equal to
Linear approximation
(U+2252), which is used like "" in both
Japanese and Korean Binomial approximation
(U+2253), a reversed variation of ""
Newtons method
(U+2245), another combination of "" and "=",
which is used to indicate isomorphism or sometimes Numerical analysis
congruence
Orders of approximation
(U+224A), also a combination of "" and "=",
used to indicate equivalence or approximate equiv-
RungeKutta methods
alence

(U+223C), which is also sometimes used to indi- Successive approximation ADC

cate proportionality
Taylor series
(U+223D), which is also sometimes used to indi-
cate proportionality Small-angle approximation
 3

7 References
[1] The Concise Oxford Dictionary, Eighth edition 1990,
ISBN 0-19-861243-5

[2] Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Pearson

Education Ltd 2009, ISBN 978 1 4082 1532 6

[3] Numerical Computation Guide

[4] Encyclopdia Britannica

[5] The three body problem

[6] Mathematical Operators Unicode (PDF). Retrieved

2013-04-20.

8 External links
4 9 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

9 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1 Text
Approximation Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximation?oldid=733826389 Contributors: Bryan Derksen, Stevertigo, Boud,
Charles Matthews, Reddi, Dysprosia, Jitse Niesen, WhisperToMe, Hyacinth, Jaredwf, Giftlite, DocWatson42, Marius~enwiki, Perey,
Xezbeth, Calair, Bobo192, .:Ajvol:., Jumbuck, Hydriotaphia, Evil Monkey, Bookandcoee, JarlaxleArtemis, LOL, WadeSimMiser, Jer-
gen, Btyner, Tommy Kronkvist, FlaBot, RexNL, Srleer, Chobot, YurikBot, RussBot, Hede2000, Arichnad, Mikeblas, Gadget850, CQ,
Ninly, Arthur Rubin, LeonardoRob0t, Staxringold, Buybooks Marius, Katieh5584, A bit iy, Imz, Reedy, Kenmcfa, Melroch, Radagast83,
Petr Kopa, MagnaMopus, 16@r, Was a bee, Ben414, Headbomb, Marek69, DynV, WinBot, Alphachimpbot, VictorAnyakin, Ikanreed,
Uvainio, Passanger, Tgeairn, C. Trie, Maurice Carbonaro, TheSeven, LokiClock, Anonymous Dissident, Uurtamo, Raymondwinn, Rjm
at sleepers, Spinningspark, Vance.naughton, SieBot, Agur bar Jac, DEMcAdams, Mx. Granger, Frmorrison, Niceguyedc, He7d3r, Wer-
son, DerBorg, Crowsnest, SilvonenBot, Renamed user 12, Addbot, Brentrjones, Download, Erutuon, Tide rolls, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Pt-
botgourou, Fraggle81, THEN WHO WAS PHONE?, KamikazeBot, Sj01046~enwiki, Semimartingale, AnomieBOT, Materialscientist,
, Amit6, Canned Soul, Pepper, Mohdavary, I dream of horses, Dude1818, Dinamik-bot, Tbhotch, Pardonmesir, TjBot, Noom-
mos, EmausBot, WikitanvirBot, JaeDyWolf, AvicAWB, Mentibot, ChuispastonBot, ClueBot NG, Kogecoo, Kasirbot, Meniv, Kooky2,
Vanished user lt94ma34le12, JBrown23, Nbeaver, Reatlas, Theos Little Bot, Vanamonde93, JPaestpreornJeolhlna, JC713, Mohamed El-
husieny, KasparBot and Anonymous: 68

9.2 Images
File:Question_book-new.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0
Contributors:
Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:
Tkgd2007
File:Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Wiktionary-logo-v2.svg License: CC BY-
SA 4.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Dan Polansky based on work currently attributed to Wikimedia Foundation but originally
created by Smurrayinchester

9.3 Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0