condition number

noun

A number expressing the degree to which the output value of a given function can change for a small change in the input argument.

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Meanings

nouncondition number (plural condition numbers)

plural condition numbers

  1. numerical analysisA number expressing the degree to which the output value of a given function can change for a small change in the input argument.

    A general theory of condition numbers was developed by Rice (1966). A problem is said to be well conditioned if the condition number is small and ill conditioned if the condition number is large.

    2020 March 19, Nick Higham, “What Is a Condition Number?”, in nhigham.com, archived from the original on 13 Oct 2022
Cite this entry
APA

condition number. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/condition%20number

MLA

“condition number.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/condition%20number. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “condition number,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/condition%20number.

Source: condition number on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.