fudge factor

4 definitions found

fudge factor - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  fudge factor \fudge factor\, n.
     a term or factor inserted into a calculation to compensate
     for anticipated errors, or to arbitrarily make the result
     conform to some desired conclusion.
     [PJC]

fudge factor - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  fudge factor
      n 1: a quantity that is added or subtracted in order to increase
           the accuracy of a scientific measure [syn: correction,
           fudge factor]

fudge factor - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  fudge factor
  
     A value or parameter that is varied in an ad hoc way to
     produce the desired result.  The terms "tolerance" and slop
     are also used, though these usually indicate a one-sided
     leeway, such as a buffer that is made larger than necessary
     because one isn't sure exactly how large it needs to be, and
     it is better to waste a little space than to lose completely
     for not having enough.  A fudge factor, on the other hand, can
     often be tweaked in more than one direction.  A good example
     is the "fuzz" typically allowed in floating-point
     calculations: two numbers being compared for equality must be
     allowed to differ by a small amount; if that amount is too
     small, a computation may never terminate, while if it is too
     large, results will be needlessly inaccurate.  Fudge factors
     are frequently adjusted incorrectly by programmers who don't
     fully understand their import.
  

fudge factor - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  fudge factor
   n.
  
     [common] A value or parameter that is varied in an ad hoc way to
     produce the desired result. The terms tolerance and slop are also
     used, though these usually indicate a one-sided leeway, such as a
     buffer that is made larger than necessary because one isn't sure
     exactly how large it needs to be, and it is better to waste a little
     space than to lose completely for not having enough. A fudge factor,
     on the other hand, can often be tweaked in more than one direction. A
     good example is the fuzz typically allowed in floating-point
     calculations: two numbers being compared for equality must be allowed
     to differ by a small amount; if that amount is too small, a
     computation may never terminate, while if it is too large, results
     will be needlessly inaccurate. Fudge factors are frequently adjusted
     incorrectly by programmers who don't fully understand their import.
     See also coefficient of X.