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 9 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.
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 9 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
9 hours ago
1
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
8 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 9 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 9 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 9 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 7 hours ago
packetpacket
asked 9 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 9 hours ago
packetpacketpacketpacket
1084
asked 9 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
9 hours ago
1
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
8 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
9 hours ago
1
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
8 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
9 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
9 hours ago
1
1
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
8 hours ago
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
8 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 8 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
7 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
3 hours ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
packetpacket is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f487009%2fa-word-for-an-informed-guess-in-mathematics-proved-later-to-be-the-correct-gues%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
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 8 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
7 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
3 hours ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
3 hours 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 8 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
7 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
3 hours ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
3 hours 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 8 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 8 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
answered 8 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
answered 8 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
answered 8 hours ago
Peter Shor Peter Shor
62.4k5117226
62.4k5117226
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
7 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
3 hours ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
7 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
3 hours ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
3 hours ago
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
7 hours ago
Yes that's it, thank you!
– packetpacket
7 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
3 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
3 hours ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
3 hours ago
I would say that we could, and MathWorld appears to support that usage, mathworld.wolfram.com/Ansatz.html
– innisfree
3 hours 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.
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f487009%2fa-word-for-an-informed-guess-in-mathematics-proved-later-to-be-the-correct-gues%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
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
9 hours ago
1
I believe you're describing a hypothesis. Or a conjecture. Or a theorem.
– michael.hor257k
8 hours ago