ktimes

KtTimes is a term used in multiple disciplines to indicate repetition or scaling by a factor k. There is no single canonical definition, and the precise meaning depends on the context in which it appears.

In mathematics, ktimes commonly appears as a form of scalar multiplication or as a shorthand for repeated application. For a number x, ktimes x is often interpreted as k·x. When applied to a function f, ktimes f can denote the k-fold composition f∘f∘...∘f, with f applied to an argument a exactly k times. Different texts may emphasize one interpretation over the other, so the surrounding notation is essential for disambiguation.

In computer science and functional programming, ktimes is sometimes used as a higher-order operator or combinator that applies a function to an input a total of k times. For example, ktimes(f, x) might return f(f(...f(x)...)) with f applied k times. Some libraries or curricula adopt this naming to express iteration patterns succinctly, while others prefer explicit loops or recursion constructs. In such settings, the exact definition is typically provided alongside the interface or documentation.

Variants and considerations: Because ktimes is not standardized, its meaning can vary between authors and fields. readers should rely on definitional clarifications within a given text to determine whether ktimes denotes scalar multiplication, function iteration, or another repeated operation.

See also: iteration, function composition, scalar multiplication, higher-order functions.