approchée

Approchée is the feminine form of the French adjective approché and, in addition, a noun meaning an approximation or an estimated value. As a noun, it designates a value that is close to the true figure but not exact, and it is commonly used in mathematical, scientific, and technical writing to distinguish between precise and rounded figures.

In practice, approchée appears in phrases such as valeur approchée (an approximate value) or solution approchée (an approximate solution). The concept is used to convey rounding, estimation, or tolerance in measurements, computations, and reporting. For example, La valeur approchée de π est 3,14, and une solution approchée peut être obtenu par une méthode numérique.

Grammatically, approchée agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It can describe a feminine singular noun (valeur approchée, solution approchée) or, in plural, valeurs approchées, solutions approchées. The masculine form is approché (par exemple, un calcul approché).

Related terms include approximation, estimation, and valeur exacte (the exact value). The use of approchée emphasizes practicality and sufficiency for the task at hand, especially when exact values are unnecessary or unattainable due to measurement limits or computational constraints. It is a standard term in French-language technical literature and education.