muutujate

Muutujate is the Estonian term for variables, used across mathematics, statistics, and computer science to denote quantities or storage locations whose values can change. In mathematics, a variable is a symbol that stands for an unknown value or a placeholder in an expression or equation. Common examples include x and y in algebra. Variables can be independent, with values chosen freely, or dependent, whose values are determined by a relation or function. They enable the description of general rules, such as y = f(x) or x^2 + 3x − 2 = 0.

In statistics, variables describe properties that vary among units in a population. They are classified by type and measurement level: qualitative (categorical) variables such as color or category, and quantitative (numerical) variables such as height or income. Quantitative variables are often further divided into discrete and continuous. Statistical analysis studies how variables relate, vary, and influence each other.

In computing, a variable is a named storage location that holds a value of a specific data type. Variables have scope, which determines where they can be accessed, and lifetime, which determines how long they exist during a program's execution. Many languages support both mutable variables, whose values can change, and immutable bindings, depending on the language. Variables are set and retrieved through assignments and references as part of program logic.

Terminology and conventions vary between disciplines and languages, but the core idea remains: a variable represents a quantity or piece of data that can take on different values. See also: constant, parameter, data type, function.