Subwiki:Property definition - Revision history

Vipul: /* Presenting the property definition */

2008-12-25T11:06:55Z

Presenting the property definition

Vipul: /* Presenting the property definition */

2008-08-25T18:57:05Z

Presenting the property definition

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:57, 25 August 2008
Line 36:		Line 36:
	#* (''instance-noun example'') A natural number is termed a perfect square if it is the square of a natural number.		#* (''instance-noun example'') A natural number is termed a perfect square if it is the square of a natural number.
	#* (''property noun example'')		#* (''property noun example'')
	* A (property name) is a (context space object) satisfying ...		# A (property name) is a (context space object) satisfying ...
	#* (''adjectival example'') A prime number is a natural number greater than one for which the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.		#* (''adjectival example'') A prime number is a natural number greater than one for which the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.
	#* (''instance-noun example'') A perfect square is a natural number that can be expressed as the square of a natural number.		#* (''instance-noun example'') A perfect square is a natural number that can be expressed as the square of a natural number.

Vipul: New page: On certain subject wikis following a paradigm of property-theoretic organization, many of the terms being defined are ''properties''. This artic...

2008-08-25T18:18:33Z

New page: On certain subject wikis following a paradigm of property-theoretic organization, many of the terms being defined are ''properties''. This artic...

New page

On certain subject wikis following a paradigm of [[Subwiki:property-theoretic organization|property-theoretic organization]], many of the terms being defined are ''properties''. This article discusses the forma of definition for properties.

For more information about the overall article structure for properties, refer [[Subwiki:Property definition article]].

For more information about the definition section in general, refer [[Subwiki:Definition]].

==What is a property?==

A property over a collection of objects is something that every object in the collection either ''satisfies'' or ''does not'' satisfy. Thus, the collection can be partitioned into two subcollections: those objects that ''satisfy'' the property, and those objects that ''do not satisfy'' the property.

The collection of objects over which a property can be evaluated is termed the context space of the property. For instance, the property of being prime can be evaluated over natural numbers; in this case, the ''context space'' for the property of being prime is ''natural number''. Primality is thus a ''property of natural numbers''.

===Word forms for the property===

* Adjective: For instance ''prime'' is an adjective describing the property of being prime. The adjective modifies the noun for the context space, so a number that is prime is termed a ''prime number''.
* Instance-noun: For instance, ''perfect square'' is a noun describing the property of being a perfect square. Here, the noun describes an object satisfying the property.
* Property noun: For instance, ''primality'' is a property noun describing the property of being prime.
==Goals of the property definition==

===What the property definition should provide===

The definition should make clear:

* What the context space is, over which the property is being evaluated.
* How, given an object in the context space, one can determine whether or not it satisfies the property. The criteria should be ''necessary and sufficient'': they should reject everything that does not satisfy the property, and accept everything that does satisfy the property.
* What other properties the given property builds upon in its definition.

==Presenting the property definition==

===The symbol-free definition===

A ''symbol-free definition'' is a definition free of symbols, and using natural language as far as possible. Symbol-free definitions often provide more useful and memorable formulations of properties, highlighting more clearly the relation with existing properties. Here are the typical formats of a symbol-free definition:

# A (context space object) is (said to be)/(termed)/(called) (property name) if ....
#* (''adjectival example'') A natural number is termed prime if it is greater than one and the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.
#* (''instance-noun example'') A natural number is termed a perfect square if it is the square of a natural number.
#* (''property noun example'')
* A (property name) is a (context space object) satisfying ...
#* (''adjectival example'') A prime number is a natural number greater than one for which the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.
#* (''instance-noun example'') A perfect square is a natural number that can be expressed as the square of a natural number.

===Definition with symbols===

A '''definition with symbols''' is a definition that sets explicit symbols for the object for which we're providing the criterion. These symbols are used in the definition, in place of pronouns and other natural language constructs. For instance:

# A (context space object) (symbol introduced) is (said to be)/(termed)/(called) (property name) if ....
#* (''adjectival example'') A natural number <math>n</math> is termed prime if <math>n > 1</math> and for any natural number <math>d</math>, <math>d|n</math> if and only if <math>d = 1</math> or <math>d = n</math>.
#* (''instance-noun example'') A natural number <math>n</math> is termed a perfect square if there exists a natural number <math>m</math> such that <math>n = m^2</math>.

===Multiple equivalent definitions===

In situations where there are multiple equivalent definitions, the definitions are provided as an enumerated or bulleted list, with the context space-setting happening ''before'' the enumeration. The enumeration thus looks like:

A (context space object) is (said to be)/(termed)/(called) (property name) if it satisfies the following equivalent conditions: (followed by an enumeration).

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:06, 25 December 2008
Line 35:		Line 35:
	#* (''adjectival example'') A natural number is termed prime if it is greater than one and the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.		#* (''adjectival example'') A natural number is termed prime if it is greater than one and the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.
	#* (''instance-noun example'') A natural number is termed a perfect square if it is the square of a natural number.		#* (''instance-noun example'') A natural number is termed a perfect square if it is the square of a natural number.
	#* (''property noun example'')		#* (''property noun example'') A natural number is said to satisfy the property of primality if it is greater than one and on the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.
	# A (property name) is a (context space object) satisfying ...		# A (property name) is a (context space object) satisfying ...
	#* (''adjectival example'') A prime number is a natural number greater than one for which the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.		#* (''adjectival example'') A prime number is a natural number greater than one for which the only natural numbers dividing it are one and the number itself.
	#* (''instance-noun example'') A perfect square is a natural number that can be expressed as the square of a natural number.		#* (''instance-noun example'') A perfect square is a natural number that can be expressed as the square of a natural number.
			#* (''property noun example'') Primality is the property of a natural number being greater than one and not having any prime divisors other than one and the number itself.

	===Definition with symbols===		===Definition with symbols===
Line 47:		Line 48:
	#* (''adjectival example'') A natural number <math>n</math> is termed prime if <math>n > 1</math> and for any natural number <math>d</math>, <math>d\|n</math> if and only if <math>d = 1</math> or <math>d = n</math>.		#* (''adjectival example'') A natural number <math>n</math> is termed prime if <math>n > 1</math> and for any natural number <math>d</math>, <math>d\|n</math> if and only if <math>d = 1</math> or <math>d = n</math>.
	#* (''instance-noun example'') A natural number <math>n</math> is termed a perfect square if there exists a natural number <math>m</math> such that <math>n = m^2</math>.		#* (''instance-noun example'') A natural number <math>n</math> is termed a perfect square if there exists a natural number <math>m</math> such that <math>n = m^2</math>.
			#* (''property noun example'') A natural number <math>n</math> is said to satisfy the property of primality if <math>n > 1</math> and for any natural number <math>d</math>, <math>d\|n</math> if and only if <math>d = 1</math> or <math>d = n</math>.

	===Multiple equivalent definitions===		===Multiple equivalent definitions===