degrees of freedom
Unconstrained motion possibilities
Degrees of freedom refers to the number of independent ways a system can move or vary.
In physics, a particle moving in three-dimensional space has three degrees of freedom—one for each axis.
In statistics, degrees of freedom describe how many values in a calculation are free to vary once constraints are applied: With ten data points and one estimated parameter, you have nine degrees of freedom.
The concept appears wherever independence and constraint intersect.
Study of movement itself
- rotationTurning on an axis
- translationConverting between languages
- motionChange in position
- axisRotation reference line
joint · articulation · gimbal · hinge · pivot · ball-and-socket · swivel · linkage
Spread around the mean
- parametersDefined boundaries or constraints
- sample sizeQuantity of observations taken
- chi-squareStatistic for categorical data
- t-testHypothesis check for averages
regression · estimation · inference · residuals · hypothesis testing · confidence interval · multivariate · predictors
Freedom from external control
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- choiceAct of selecting
- agencyPower to act
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
flexibility · latitude · options · discretion · volition · leeway · autonomy · self-governance
Limit on action
- limitationBound on extent
- boundSecured or destined
- rigidityState of being unbending
- confinementState of being restricted
control · regulation · restraint · impediment · barrier · inhibition · curtailment · containment
kinematics
Study of movement itself
- rotationTurning on an axis
- translationConverting between languages
- motionChange in position
axis · joint · articulation · gimbal · hinge · pivot · ball-and-socket · swivel · linkage · spherical
variance
Spread around the mean
- parametersDefined boundaries or constraints
- sample sizeQuantity of observations taken
- chi-squareStatistic for categorical data
t-test · regression · estimation · inference · residuals · hypothesis testing · confidence interval · multivariate · predictors · normal distribution
independence
Freedom from external control
self-determination · flexibility · latitude · options · discretion · volition · leeway · autonomy · self-governance · elbow room
restriction
Limit on action
- limitationBound on extent
- boundSecured or destined
- rigidityState of being unbending
confinement · control · regulation · restraint · impediment · barrier · inhibition · curtailment · containment · stricture
- mechanicsforce, turning, rotation, momentum, velocity
- roboticsrobot, android, humanoid, robotic arm, servo
- statisticsmean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation
- ANOVAANOVA, F-test, F-ratio, within groups, between-subjects
- chi-squarecell count, cell counts
- regressionlinear regression, least squares, residuals, residual, r-squared
degrees of freedomconstraints
Limits on action
restrictions · limitations · boundary conditions · dependent variables · invariants
free, freedom, degree, freeing, freely, freedoms, unfree, master's degree, degreed