local maxima
Neighborhood high points
Local maxima are points where a value is higher than all nearby values but not necessarily the highest overall.
In mathematics, a function has a local maximum where it peaks before descending again—a hilltop rather than the mountain's summit.
The term extends to any field where you might find the best option in a limited range while missing a better one elsewhere: The algorithm got stuck at a local maximum.
Singular: local maximum.
Going up elevated terrain
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- multimodalUsing multiple forms
- heuristicPractical solving shortcut
- stochasticRandomly determined, statistically describable
Decisive juncture in events
- derivativeFunction's rate of change
- extremaFunction's highest, lowest points
- inflection pointWhere curvature changes sign
- second derivativeChange in rate of change
concavity · function · curve · slope · tangent · rate of change · increasing · decreasing
Utmost height attained
- vertexPoint where edges converge
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- curveSmooth, angleless line
- plotStoryline or land parcel
coordinate · polynomial · quadratic · function · axis · tangent line · neighborhood · interval
Flat highland area
- ceilingRoom's upper surface
- peak performanceHighest level of functioning
- diminishing returnsReduced benefit from additional effort
- stuckUnable to move
suboptimal · false summit · shortsighted · incremental · limitation · barrier · settling · compromise
hill-climbing
Going up elevated terrain
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- multimodalUsing multiple forms
- heuristicPractical solving shortcut
stochastic · saddle point · restart · perturbation · trapped
critical point
Decisive juncture in events
- derivativeFunction's rate of change
- extremaFunction's highest, lowest points
- inflection pointWhere curvature changes sign
second derivative · concavity · function · curve · slope · tangent · rate of change · increasing · decreasing · neighborhood
peak
Utmost height attained
- vertexPoint where edges converge
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- curveSmooth, angleless line
plot · coordinate · polynomial · quadratic · function · axis · tangent line · neighborhood · interval · graph
plateau
Flat highland area
- ceilingRoom's upper surface
- peak performanceHighest level of functioning
- diminishing returnsReduced benefit from additional effort
stuck · suboptimal · false summit · shortsighted · incremental · limitation · barrier · settling · compromise