parameteret

Parameteret is the definite singular form of the noun parameter in several Scandinavian languages, such as Danish and Norwegian. It is used to refer to a specific parameter that has already been introduced in the discourse. The word parameter itself comes from Greek para- “beside” and metron “measure,” and it entered scientific language to describe quantities that influence or define a system.

Across disciplines, a parameter is a quantity that defines or constrains a model or system. Parameters are distinguished from data or variables in a model; they are fixed values that determine behavior or outcomes, and changing them can alter results without changing the underlying structure of the model.

In mathematics and applied sciences, parameters specify characteristics such as coefficients in equations or fixed dimensions. For example, in a linear model y = a x + b, a and b are parameters that determine the slope and intercept. In a geometric definition, a circle is defined by its radius r, which is a parameter of the circle.

In statistics, a parameter describes a property of a population distribution, such as the population mean or population variance. A statistic, by contrast, is a quantity calculated from a sample that estimates a population parameter. The distinction between parameters and statistics is central to inference and hypothesis testing.

In computing, a parameter (or argument) is an input value supplied to a function or procedure. Formal parameters are the variables defined by the function, while actual parameters are the values passed during a call.

Linguistics and philosophy also use the term parameter to describe settings or rules that can vary between languages or theories, reflecting how systems can be constrained or configured.