ScienceAugust 9, 2026
invariants
in-VAIR-ee-unts
Definition
Mathematical properties or quantities that remain unchanged even when the system or object undergoes a specific transformation or operation.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'invarians', meaning 'not changing', formed by combining the prefix 'in-' (not) with 'varians' (changing, from the verb 'variare'). It entered mathematical usage in the 19th century to describe quantities that stay constant under transformations.
In the news
The word appears in the article as part of the formal name of a mathematical research program, signifying a core topic of study within the field.
Generative AI has changed mathematics forever. Where to from here?
Read the full article ↗theconversation.com