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Inmathematics,value may refer to several, strongly related notions. Though in general, a mathematicalvalue is a broad term that refers to any definite entity that can be manipulated withoperators according to the well-defined rules of itsmathematical system.
Certain values can correspond to the real world, although most values in mathematics generally exists purely as abstract objects with no connection to the real world.
Numbers (specifically thereals) are values that representquantities. In that sense,numerical values are values that comprises or are made up of said numbers. In more simpler terms, a numerical value are represented by numbers. Both numbers and numerical values tend to be synonymous and interchangeable with each other.[1]
The following table shows certain values that are considered numerical values themselves.
| Value | Brief description |
|---|---|
| Digit value | Digit value of a place of a number would simply be its digit or numeral. |
| Place value | The contribution of a digit to the value of a number is the value of the digit multiplied by a factor of 10 raised to the power of the digit's position. |
| Ratio | How many times one number contains another. |
| Rates | Thequotient of two quantites. |
| Percentage | A number or ratio expressed as a fraction of 100 |
| Central tendencies | A typical value for aprobability distribution. |
Because numerical values can also be a part of composite objects, various terminologies are given. For example, acomplex number, has as considered itsreal value, likewise as itscomplex value.
Avariable is a symbol that represents an unspecified object. Homogeneous to numbers, variables themselves are considered as values.
Thevalue of afunction, given the value(s) assigned to itsargument(s), is the quantity assumed by the function for these argument values.[2][3]
For example, if the functionf is defined byf(x) = 2x2 − 3x + 1, then assigning the value 3 to its argumentx yields the function value 10, sincef(3) = 2·32 − 3·3 + 1 = 10.
If the variable, expression or function only assumesreal values, it is calledreal-valued. Likewise, acomplex-valued variable, expression or function only assumescomplex values.