uncalculable

Uncalculable is an adjective describing something that cannot be calculated or estimated with precision. It may refer to quantities that are too complex, uncertain, or information-poor to yield a reliable numeric value, or to events whose outcomes are inherently indeterminate.

In mathematics and computer science, uncalculable (often used interchangeably with uncomputable) denotes problems or functions for which no algorithm can produce a correct result for all possible inputs. A classic example is the halting problem: there is no general procedure that determines, for every program and input, whether the program halts. Concepts such as incomputability and undecidability are related but distinct: uncomputability concerns the impossibility of computing a function, whereas undecidability concerns the impossibility of deciding a yes/no question for all instances.

In everyday use, uncalculable can describe risks, outcomes, or effects that resist precise quantification because of high complexity, chaotic dynamics, or insufficient data. It is often a provisional judgment, reflecting current methods or information limits rather than a universal metaphysical barrier.

The term is sometimes contrasted with incalculable or inestimable, terms whose nuances vary by writer but generally distinguish the practical inability to calculate from questions of value or significance. In popular discourse, uncalculable frequently emphasizes unpredictability and the limits of computation, whereas incalculable may emphasize gaps in data or knowledge. See also uncomputable, undecidable, and halting problem for related concepts.