nonlinearity
Bent relationship mathematically
Nonlinearity is the quality of not following a straight line or direct proportion.
In mathematics and physics, a nonlinear system is one where outputs don't scale proportionally with inputs—double the cause doesn't mean double the effect.
The concept extends to narratives that jump around in time rather than proceeding chronologically: The film's nonlinearity made it hard to follow.
Nonlinearities in complex systems can produce unexpected behaviors, feedback loops, and chaos.
Small inputs, disproportionate results
- strange attractorFractal pattern in chaos
- LorenzAustrian animal behaviorist
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
feedback loops · cascade effect · instability · unpredictability · sensitivity · perturbation · avalanche · tipping point
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- harmonicOf musical overtones
- saturationState of complete permeation
clipping · distortion · amplification · gain · input-output · regulation · servomechanism · overshoot
Equation containing derivatives
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- singularityPoint where values explode
- manifoldMany and various
- topologyStudy of spatial arrangement
eigenvalue · calculus · vector field · fixed point · variational · asymptotic · approximation
Symmetrical open plane curve
- hyperbolaCurve with two branches
- ellipseConic section curve
- exponentialIncreasing by constant ratio
- logarithmicBased on exponents
sigmoid · asymptote · inflection point · concavity · polynomial · quadratic · cubic · S-curve
Coming into existence
- self-organizationSpontaneous internal structure emergence
- feedbackReturned response data
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- network effectsValue increasing with participation
interdependence · synergy · holism · multifactorial · robustness · scalability · modularity · cybernetics
butterfly effect
Small inputs, disproportionate results
- strange attractorFractal pattern in chaos
- LorenzAustrian animal behaviorist
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
turbulence · feedback loops · cascade effect · instability · unpredictability · sensitivity · perturbation · avalanche · tipping point · phase transition
oscillation
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- harmonicOf musical overtones
saturation · clipping · distortion · amplification · gain · input-output · regulation · servomechanism · overshoot · steady state
differential equation
Equation containing derivatives
- bifurcationDivision into two branches
- singularityPoint where values explode
- manifoldMany and various
topology · eigenvalue · calculus · vector field · fixed point · variational · asymptotic · approximation
parabola
Symmetrical open plane curve
- hyperbolaCurve with two branches
- ellipseConic section curve
- exponentialIncreasing by constant ratio
logarithmic · sigmoid · asymptote · inflection point · concavity · polynomial · quadratic · cubic · S-curve · power law
emergence
Coming into existence
- self-organizationSpontaneous internal structure emergence
- feedbackReturned response data
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
network effects · interdependence · synergy · holism · multifactorial · robustness · scalability · modularity · cybernetics · agent-based
- neural networksneural network, neural networks, hidden layers, backpropagation, layers
- narrative timeflashback, flashforward, foreshadowing, pacing, chronology
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- distortionwarping, bending, twisting, skewing, stretching
- emergenceemergence, appearing, surfacing, self-organization, arising
nonlinearitylinearity
Straight-path property
proportionality · linear function · linear equation · superposition · additivity
nonlinearitylinearity
Straight-path property
straightness · straight line · linear progression · direct path · directness
line, lineage, alignment, linear, delineate, lineal, nonlinear, affine, linearity