Function Argument

A Function Argument is a variable that describes some portion of a function's function domain.

• AKA: Function Term/Parameter/Variable.
• Context:
  • It can range from being a Free Function Argument to being a Bound Function Argument (bound to one or more function argument values).
  • It can be represented by a Software Function Argument.
  • …
• Example(s):
  • a Mathematical Function Argument, such as [math]\displaystyle{ x }[/math] in [math]\displaystyle{ f(x) }[/math]
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Operation Input.
  • Function Output.
• See: Input, Verb Semantic Argument.

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References

2009

• (Wikipedia, 2009) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parameter#Mathematical_functions
  • Mathematical functions typically can have one or more variables and zero or more parameters. The two are often distinguished by being grouped separately in the list of arguments that the function takes:
    • [math]\displaystyle{ f }[/math](x₁, x₂, ...; a₁, a₂, ...) = ...
  • The symbols before the semicolon in the function's definition, in this example the xs, denote variables, while those after it, in this example the as, denote parameters.
  • Strictly speaking, parameters are denoted by the symbols that are part of the function's definition, while arguments are the values that are supplied to the function when it is used. Thus, a parameter might be something like "the ratio of the cylinder's radius to its height", while the argument would be something like "2" or "0.1".
• (Wikipedia, 2009) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_function#Vocabulary
  • A specific input in a function is called an argument of the function. For each argument value x, the corresponding unique y in the codomain is called the function value at x, or the image of x under ƒ. The image of x may be written as ƒ(x) or as y. (See the section on notation.)
  • The graph of a function ƒ is the set of all ordered pairs (x, ƒ(x)), for all x in the domain X. If X and Y are subsets of R, the real numbers, then this definition coincides with the familiar sense of "graph" as a picture or plot of the function, with the ordered pairs being the Cartesian coordinates of points.
• (Wikipedia, 2009) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_parameter
  • In computer programming, a parameter is a variable which takes on the meaning of a corresponding argument passed in a call to a subroutine. ...
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/parameter
  • Noun
    • 1. (mathematics, physics) A variable kept constant during an experiment, calculation or similar.
    • 2. (programming) A name in a function or subroutine definition that is replaced by, or bound to, the corresponding actual argument when the function or subroutine is called.
    • 3. A characteristic or feature that distinguishes something from others
  • Usage notes
    • ((programming) actual argument) This is a loose usage. Argument is more correct.
  • Synonyms
    • argument
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/formal_parameter
  • Noun
    • 1. (programming) An abstract representation, typically including a name and a type, of a parameter expected to be passed to a method or function.

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