saddle point
Neither peak nor valley
A saddle point is a point on a curved surface where the slope is zero but which is neither a maximum nor a minimum—like the center of a horse's saddle, which curves up front-to-back but down side-to-side.
In mathematics and economics, saddle points appear in optimization problems and game theory, marking equilibria where no player gains by changing strategy unilaterally.
Route through highlands
- colSpreadsheet vertical section
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
- valleyLow ground between heights
- watershedDrainage area boundary
elevation · terrain · topography · contour · divide · notch · gap · alpine
Word form alteration
- gradientRate of change across space
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- multivariableHaving several independent variables
- calculusMathematical analysis system
surface · tangent plane · eigenvalues · extremum · local minimum · local maximum · concavity
Worst-case loss reduction
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- local maximaPoints exceeding immediate neighbors
- iterationRepeated procedural pass
- neural networkInterconnected computational nodes mimicking cognition
learning rate · escape · plateau · barrier · search algorithm · momentum · basin · trajectory
Worst-case loss reduction
- zero-sumBalanced gains and losses
- two-playerDesigned for paired participation
- competitiveDriven by rivalry
- optimal playBest possible decision-making
State of balance
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
- utility functionQuantified preference ordering
- allocationDistribution of shares
mountain pass
Route through highlands
watershed · elevation · terrain · topography · contour · divide · notch · gap · alpine · trail junction
inflection
Word form alteration
- gradientRate of change across space
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- multivariableHaving several independent variables
calculus · surface · tangent plane · eigenvalues · extremum · local minimum · local maximum · concavity
minimax
Worst-case loss reduction
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- local maximaPoints exceeding immediate neighbors
- iterationRepeated procedural pass
neural network · learning rate · escape · plateau · barrier · search algorithm · momentum · basin · trajectory
minimax
Worst-case loss reduction
- zero-sumBalanced gains and losses
- two-playerDesigned for paired participation
- competitiveDriven by rivalry
equilibrium
State of balance
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
- utility functionQuantified preference ordering
- allocationDistribution of shares
- kineticsreaction rate, activation energy, reaction rates, second order, catalysis
- economicssupply and demand, inflation, GDP, GNP, gross domestic product
- extremesbest, worst, biggest, smallest, highest
- surfacessurface, sphere, cone, torus, plane
- Centerscenter, core, hub, nucleus, middle
- turning pointsdefining moment, pivotal event, pivotal moment, crossroads, crux
saddle pointlocal maximum
Highest nearby, not overall
local minimum · global maximum · extremum · peak · valley
saddle, point, saddled, saddlebag, saddlebags, saddling, saddler, saddlery, unsaddle