Simple
From Free net encyclopedia
- For the usage of the term simple in mathematics see simple (algebra)
- In music a simple interval is one which lies within one octave, contrasted with a compound interval which exceeds or is wider than one octave.
- The brand name for an American shoe manufacturer, a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation. The Simple shoes brand is popular among surfing and skateboarding enthusiasts.
- Simple English Wikipedia is a version of Wikipedia that uses simpler English language, for students, teachers, translators, and non-native speakers.
- Simplicity is the property possessed by things that are simple.
- Simple living or voluntary simplicity is an alternative lifestyle to consumerism.
- The character Jesse B. Semple, featured in many stories by American writer Langston Hughes.
Simple is an adjective to refer to the things that have a property being defined or consist of a small number, (the number of parts, or especially, the number of (different) (inter)dependencies).
It's all about this number.
That is to say, a subject is more difficult, as it has more interdependences, and more simple, as there are less interdependencies. If something is defined by linear dependency, it would be considered simpler than something that is defined by non-linear dependences. However, if there is a large number of linear dependences, which interdepend, it might be considered more difficult because of larger number of interdependences.
Something might be also considered difficult or simple just because of multitude of "parts" (for example, when we say, "this physical exercise is very difficult", we might mean the multitude (magnitude) of force needed to apply", when we say "this math exercise is simple", we might be referring to number of interdependencies, when we say "this problem is difficult to solve", we might be referring to number of calculations or computing cycles to be done to solve it).
Problems that have many same type interdependences, not necessarily are more difficult than something that has fewer, but different type of interdependences, as it might require larger amount of time to solve them. In this case, it refers to the number of seconds (amount of time) needed to solve the problem, and not necessarily means that there is very large number of interdependences.
A simple dependency (function) has a small number of (inter)dependences in it, a small number of varialbles.
As "small" is a relative concept, "simple" is also a relative concept, and defined by the averge depending on subject we are talking about.
"Simple" also has a meaning of "not easy to understand", which means it takes a small amount of seconds to become able to make correct predictions about a system. In this case, the number of interdependences is implied, as equations with a smaller number of (inter)dependences are easier to solve, and thus it's easier to predict the system.