parameter,
n. 1. an arbitrary constant whose value affects the specific nature but not the formal properties of a mathematical expression, such as the arbitrary constants a and b in ax2 + bx + c = 0.
2. a variable that is not being considered and that may, for present purposes, be regarded as a constant, such as y in the partial derivative
3. one of a number of auxiliary variables in terms of which all the variables in an implicit functional relationship can be explicitly expressed. See parametric equations.
4. (Statistics) a characteristic of the distribution of a population, such as its mean, variance, or moments about the mean, as distinct from the characteristics of a sample drawn from the population. Compare statistic. 5. (of a conic) the length of the latus rectum, in terms of which the given conic can be described. For ellipse and hyperbola, it is 2p = 2b2/a, where a and b are the semi-axes; for the parabola y2 = 2px, it is 2p.
2. a variable that is not being considered and that may, for present purposes, be regarded as a constant, such as y in the partial derivative
3. one of a number of auxiliary variables in terms of which all the variables in an implicit functional relationship can be explicitly expressed. See parametric equations.4. (Statistics) a characteristic of the distribution of a population, such as its mean, variance, or moments about the mean, as distinct from the characteristics of a sample drawn from the population. Compare statistic. 5. (of a conic) the length of the latus rectum, in terms of which the given conic can be described. For ellipse and hyperbola, it is 2p = 2b2/a, where a and b are the semi-axes; for the parabola y2 = 2px, it is 2p.