ill-posed
Lacking unique solution
Ill-posed describes a problem or question that lacks the conditions needed for a proper solution—typically because it has no solution, multiple solutions, or solutions that change drastically with small changes in input.
The term comes from mathematics but extends to any poorly formulated inquiry: The question "What's the best movie?" is ill-posed without specifying criteria.
Opposite of well-posed.
Having insufficient constraints
- regularizationPenalty preventing model complexity
- existenceState of being real
- uniquenessQuality of being singular
- stabilityResistance to displacement
constraints · boundary conditions · optimization · convergence · approximation · linear algebra · computational
Having multiple interpretations
- vagueUnclear, ill-defined
- unclearNot easily understood
- undefinedNot clearly delineated
- muddledIn a confused state
imprecise · formulation · framing · premises · assumptions · conceptual · paradox · category error
Testable proposed explanation
- experimental designStructured plan for research
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
- controlsOperates or regulates
testability · falsifiability · research question · operationalization · measurement · validity · reproducibility · confounds
underdetermined
Having insufficient constraints
- regularizationPenalty preventing model complexity
- existenceState of being real
- uniquenessQuality of being singular
stability · constraints · boundary conditions · optimization · convergence · approximation · linear algebra · computational
ambiguous
Having multiple interpretations
muddled · imprecise · formulation · framing · premises · assumptions · conceptual · paradox · category error · loaded question
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- experimental designStructured plan for research
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- variablesChangeable elements in equations
controls · testability · falsifiability · research question · operationalization · measurement · validity · reproducibility · confounds · parameters
ill-posedwell-posed
Having existence, uniqueness, stability
well-defined · well-conditioned · stable · solvable · determinate
ill-posedwell-posed
Having existence, uniqueness, stability
well-defined · clear · precise · unambiguous · answerable
ill, pose, posed, posing, poses, poser, position, positions, positioned