- #1
liometopum
- 127
- 24
In a geometric mean equation, say 2 x 8 = 16, or a x b = c, what are the words we would use to describe the numbers or terms? Specifically, if you know 'a' and 'c', what do you call 'b'?
For example, in a normal multiplication, a x b = c, 'a' is the multiplicand, 'b' is the multiplier, and 'c' is the product. What do you call the terms in a geometric mean equation? Calling them multiplicand and multiplier seems out of place, as it adds some sort of priority to one of the factors.
If you reverse it, and want to know what one of the missing multipliers is... e.g. what is 'a' if you know 'b' and 'c', so that a= c/b then what do you call 'a'? And what term describes the relation between 'a' and 'b'? A sentence such as:" 'a' is the geometric mean partner of 'b' for the product 'c' (or square of the geometric mean)" is clunky and probably not well stated.
The Wikipedia article, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_mean, does give terminology. Is there a proper terminology?
For example, in a normal multiplication, a x b = c, 'a' is the multiplicand, 'b' is the multiplier, and 'c' is the product. What do you call the terms in a geometric mean equation? Calling them multiplicand and multiplier seems out of place, as it adds some sort of priority to one of the factors.
If you reverse it, and want to know what one of the missing multipliers is... e.g. what is 'a' if you know 'b' and 'c', so that a= c/b then what do you call 'a'? And what term describes the relation between 'a' and 'b'? A sentence such as:" 'a' is the geometric mean partner of 'b' for the product 'c' (or square of the geometric mean)" is clunky and probably not well stated.
The Wikipedia article, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_mean, does give terminology. Is there a proper terminology?