degree of freedom

• Terme utilisé en physique, en ingénierie, en statistique et en mathématiques, désignant le nombre de paramètres ou variables indépendants qui peuvent varier librement dans un système ou un calcul sans violer de contraintes.

A term used in physics, engineering, statistics, and mathematics referring to the number of independent parameters or variables that can vary freely in a system or calculation without violating any constraints.

1. Physics and EngineeringC1formal

   The number of independent parameters that define the configuration or state of a physical system.

   degré de liberté

   • A simple pendulum has one degree of freedom.
   • The robot arm has six degrees of freedom for movement.
   • In thermodynamics, each molecule has multiple degrees of freedom.

2. Statistics and MathematicsC1formal

   The number of values in a calculation that are free to vary, used in hypothesis testing and model fitting.

   degré de liberté

   • The t-test uses degrees of freedom to determine the critical value.
   • In regression analysis, degrees of freedom affect the model's accuracy.
   • The chi-square test's degrees of freedom depend on the number of categories.

3. General UsageB2formal

   The scope or range of options available to someone in a given situation.

   marge de manœuvre

   • The new policy gives employees more degrees of freedom in their work.
   • He has a high degree of freedom in choosing his research topics.
   • The contract allows a certain degree of freedom for negotiation.