On Tue, Jun 19, 2007 at 08:41:14AM -0600, Michael Agar wrote: > > So I think I?ll work on nonlinearity for awhile. Russell writes: > ?most of my readers understand perfectly well what a linear function > is: one that obeys f(a*x+b*y) = a*f(x)+b*f(y).? That?s clear, > resembles the definition in the Wikipedia entry. But then he writes : > ?If neither * or + are defined for your objects of discussion, you > cannot talk about (non-)linearity.? That won?t do. I have to be able > to talk about nonlinear effects of, say, mental health policy on > local programs in a qualitative way.
When I hear "nonlinear effects of mental health policy" I immediately think of some variable (eg some measure of social good) that depends on some other variable (eg money) in a nonlinear way (eg social good varies as the square of money spent). Whilst you may be using the term a little imprecisely by not being quantitative, it is still a perfectly valid use of the term. However, if the above paragraph is not what you mean, then you've immediately lost one of your readers. Cheers -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A/Prof Russell Standish Phone 0425 253119 (mobile) Mathematics UNSW SYDNEY 2052 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Australia http://www.hpcoders.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
