singularities
sing-gyuh-LAIR-ih-teez
Definition
Points or states where a mathematical expression or function becomes undefined, infinite, or ceases to behave normally, often causing problems in computational calculations.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'singularis,' meaning 'single' or 'solitary.' It entered English to describe something unique, but evolved in mathematics and physics to denote a point of infinite value or numerical breakdown.
In the news
In this article, the authors explain that using a specific mathematical framework avoids singularities, which are problematic numerical instabilities that can occur when calculating complex rotations using standard Euler angles.
Astronomers develop a faster way to simulate the complicated motion of binary asteroids
Read the full article ↗The Brighter Side of News