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LostInParadise's avatar

Why is it upper bound and lower bound and not higher bound and lower bound?

Asked by LostInParadise (31905points) January 21st, 2022
6 responses
“Great Question” (0points)

Or alternatively, upper bound and downer bound? Is this a quirk of English, or do other languages do the same thing?

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snowberry's avatar

My first search revealed this is a mathematical concept. So you should direct this question to whoever first coined the term. The definition is below.

https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/upper-bound.html

snowberry (27645points)“Great Answer” (2points)
LostInParadise's avatar

What about upper limit and lower limit? Is that also mathematics? Surely it is not just mathematicians that use these terms.

LostInParadise (31905points)“Great Answer” (0points)
janbb's avatar

It’s upper and lower floors in a building too. I don’t have a problem with it, just a convention of the language.

janbb (62860points)“Great Answer” (1points)
zenvelo's avatar

@janbb But often people are warned to not stay on the “higher floors” in a building.

As far as bounds, or rather, boundaries, the mathenatical term is referencing the placement of one of two bounds, the upper and the lower. For instance, if I asked for the range of values of (X-(x+/-2) the upper bound would would be 2, the lower bound would be -2.

zenvelo (39408points)“Great Answer” (0points)
LostInParadise's avatar

Okay, what about upper arm and lower arm or lower jaw and upper jaw? Or lower deck and upper deck? There is definitely a strong preference for using upper over higher.

LostInParadise (31905points)“Great Answer” (0points)
janbb's avatar

I think you’re only arguing with yourself. No one’s disagreeing.

janbb (62860points)“Great Answer” (1points)

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