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in literature "exponentially" can be used in a lot of ways that are appropriate but not mathematically correct. you can use it as a euphemism, as a metaphor, as
by HugoDaniel 6y ago
in literature "exponentially" can be used in a lot of ways that are appropriate but not mathematically correct. you can use it as a euphemism, as a metaphor, as an adjective, like a loose comparator, etc... everything is valid.
the same applies to a lot of other mathematical concepts (i.e. the double negative, etc...)
- DC-3 6y agoI don't think it's asking for an unreasonable amount of rigour to require that terms like 'exponentially' not be used to describe discrete differences in magnitude? I mean, you might as well say 'additively', since for any given (x, y) pair of positive numbers there is some n such that x+n=y, just as there is some n such that x^n=y.
- HugoDaniel 6y agoyes, I feel the same way, especially in data/scientific oriented articles. Unfortunately, most data journalists are writers first and scientists second, which kind of biases the way things are presented in written form.