Lähendust

Lähendust is an Estonian term that denotes approximation or the act of bringing something closer to another value or standard. It is used to describe both the process of finding a value that is near an exact solution and the resulting estimate itself. In everyday language, it can refer to rough estimates or near-correct conclusions in reasoning, planning, or measurement.

In mathematics and computer science, lähendust commonly refers to methods and results that approximate a function, solution, or dataset when an exact solution is difficult or unnecessary. Examples include numerical methods such as iterative schemes, function approximations using polynomials or basis functions, and data-fitting techniques where a model is chosen to closely resemble observed data.

In statistics and data analysis, the term is used for estimated quantities derived from data, where the estimate is an approximation of a population parameter. The quality of a lähendust is typically described by its error or uncertainty.

Etymology and usage note: the word is formed from a Estonian verb meaning to bring closer or to approximate, with the noun form representing the result or method of approximation. The term is common in technical texts as well as in practical contexts where exact solutions are impractical or unnecessary.

See also: ligikaudne hinnang, funktsiooni lähendus, numeerilised meetodid.