numerinen

Numerinen is a Finnish adjective meaning "numerical" or "numeric," used to describe quantities, values, data, or methods that pertain to numbers. The word derives from the Latin numerus via common Indo-European linguistic developments and corresponds to English "numerical" and Swedish "numerisk."

In mathematics and applied sciences, numerinen is commonly applied to methods and analyses that rely on numerical approximation rather than symbolic or analytical solutions. Examples include numerinen laskenta (numerical computation), numerinen analyysi (numerical analysis), and numerinen integraatio (numerical integration). These approaches are central when exact solutions are unavailable or impractical, and they emphasize algorithms, discretization, error estimation and stability.

In computing and data contexts, numerinen describes data types and representations that encode numbers, such as integers and floating-point values, and interfaces or fields that accept numeric input. It also appears in everyday language to distinguish numerical information from qualitative or categorical information.

The term can be used adjectivally in technical, educational and colloquial settings. Related concepts include numerointi (numbering), numero (number) and lukutaito (numeracy), each reflecting different aspects of working with numbers: identification, representation and understanding.