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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Indeterminate \In`de*ter"mi*nate\, a. [L. indeterminatus.]
Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not
precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. --Paley.
[1913 Webster]

{Indeterminate analysis} (Math.), that branch of analysis
which has for its object the solution of indeterminate
problems.

{Indeterminate coefficients} (Math.), coefficients
arbitrarily assumed for convenience of calculation, or to
facilitate some artifice of analysis. Their values are
subsequently determined.

{Indeterminate equation} (Math.), an equation in which the
unknown quantities admit of an infinite number of values,
or sets of values. A group of equations is indeterminate
when it contains more unknown quantities than there are
equations.

{Indeterminate inflorescence} (Bot.), a mode of inflorescence
in which the flowers all arise from axillary buds, the
terminal bud going on to grow and sometimes continuing the
stem indefinitely; -- called also {acropetal
inflorescence}, {botryose inflorescence}, {centripetal
inflorescence}, and {indefinite inflorescence}. --Gray.

{Indeterminate problem} (Math.), a problem which admits of an
infinite number of solutions, or one in which there are
fewer imposed conditions than there are unknown or
required results.

{Indeterminate quantity} (Math.), a quantity which has no
fixed value, but which may be varied in accordance with
any proposed condition.

{Indeterminate series} (Math.), a series whose terms proceed
by the powers of an indeterminate quantity, sometimes also
with indeterminate exponents, or indeterminate
coefficients. -- {In`de*ter"mi*nate*ly} adv. --
{In`de*ter"mi*nate*ness}, n.
[1913 Webster]