The terms are mathematical terms and are applicable to both sciences. Covarient and Contravarient describe the relationship between entities in both cases here

The terms are mathematical terms and are applicable to both sciences. Covarient and Contravarient describe the relationship between entities in both cases here. To speak generally, if two objects have a co-variant relationship, then when one goes up the other goes up as well. If two objects have a contra-varient relationship, when one goes up, the other goes down. I'm being a bit reductive, but that's how I understand it.