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infimum

Pronunciation: [ɪnˈfɪmum]

Word

Learn how to use infimum in a sentence: 6 audio examples across 2 meanings.

Context: “mathematics”

(noun) the greatest number that is less than or equal to all the numbers in a certain set. Imagine you have a box of toys, and you want to find out which toy is the smallest. The infimum is like the smallest toy that anyone would think is still a toy.

Example

The infimum of the set of all positive numbers is zero because zero is the biggest number that is smaller than all positive numbers.

Example

The infimum of the set of numbers greater than one is not one because one is actually in the set.

Example

What is the infimum of the numbers you see on this chart?

Context: “order theory”

(noun) the smallest limit that can be reached for a set of ordered elements. Think of a race where you want to see who finished last. The infimum would be the slowest time that still counts as a finish.

Example

In a list of race times, the infimum would show us the slowest time that still finishes the race.

Example

The infimum of the race times is not the time of the runner who didn't finish.

Example

Can you tell me the infimum of the finish times in this competition?

How to pronounce infimum

Pronunciation: [ɪnˈfɪmum]

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