Infinitesimally: meaning, definitions and examples

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infinitesimally

 

[ ɪnˌfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

mathematics, science

Infinitesimally refers to quantities that are immeasurably small or so tiny that they approach zero. In calculus, it signifies a limit that has no tangible value but is conceptually important, often used to denote a change that is much smaller than any finite measurement.

Synonyms

imperceptibly, insignificantly, minutely.

Examples of usage

  • The functions approached their limits infinitesimally.
  • He made infinitesimal adjustments to the machinery.
  • The temperature changed infinitesimally during the experiment.

Translations

Translations of the word "infinitesimally" in other languages:

🇵🇹 infinitesimalmente

🇮🇳 अस्वाभाविक रूप से

🇩🇪 infinitesimal

🇮🇩 infinitesimal

🇺🇦 інфінітезимально

🇵🇱 infinitesimalnie

🇯🇵 無限小に

🇫🇷 infinitésimalement

🇪🇸 infinitesimalmente

🇹🇷 sonsuz küçük bir şekilde

🇰🇷 무한소적으로

🇸🇦 بشكل غير محدد

🇨🇿 infinitesimálně

🇸🇰 infinitesimálne

🇨🇳 无穷小地

🇸🇮 infinitesimalno

🇮🇸 óendanlega lítið

🇰🇿 шексіз кішкентай түрде

🇬🇪 უსასრულოდ მცირე

🇦🇿 sonsuz kiçik şəkildə

🇲🇽 infinitesimalmente

Etymology

The term 'infinitesimal' comes from the Latin word 'infinitesimus', which means 'an indefinitely small quantity'. The formation of the word involved the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'finitus', meaning 'finite'. The modern use of 'infinitesimal' in mathematics can be traced back to the developments of calculus in the 17th century by mathematicians such as Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. They formulated concepts around infinitesimal quantities to understand the behavior of functions and their rates of change. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the understanding of infinitesimals evolved, leading to rigorous mathematical treatment and further applications in fields such as physics and engineering.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,770 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.