Eliminació

Eliminació is a Catalan noun that denotes the act of removing something or the result of that action. It is used in contexts ranging from physical removal to the elimination of obstacles, and it appears in mathematics, science, law, sports, and everyday language.

Etymology: From Latin eliminatio, from eliminare, meaning to throw away or discard.

In mathematics and logic, eliminació refers to methods that remove variables or components to simplify a problem. In elimination theory, and in Gaussian elimination, systems of linear equations are reduced to a solvable form. In logic and computer science, quantifier elimination or variable elimination reduces formulas to equivalent statements with fewer variables.

In chemistry, eliminació describes elimination reactions, such as E1 and E2, in which atoms or groups are removed from a molecule to form a double bond. In biology and physiology, it denotes excretion and waste removal, including urinary and fecal elimination.

In everyday language and in sports, an elimination can refer to the removal of options or competitors; in sports tournaments an elimination round determines which entrants advance or are eliminated.

The term thus encompasses several domains, all centered on removing, excluding, or discarding elements.