An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

Denoting a → function that is defined on a sequence of → intervals or pieces. For example: |x| = -x for x < 0, x = 0 for x = 0, and x = x for x > 0.

→ piece, + -wise, → clockwise.

A function f(x) in an interval if :1) the interval can be divided into a finite number of pieces in each of which f(x) is continuous, and 2) the limits of f(x) as x approaches the boundary point of each piece are finite. In other words, a piecewise continuous function is one that is made up of a finite number of continuous pieces.

→ piecewise; → continuous; → function.