Mathematics and Physics Glossary-- S --Sagitta, n. 1. (Astron.) A small constellation north of Aquila; the Arrow. 2. (Geom.) The distance from a point in a curve to the chord; also, the versed sine of an arc; -- so called from its resemblance to an arrow resting on the bow and string. [Obs.] Sagittarius (), n. [L., literally, an archer, fr. sagittarius belonging to an arrow, fr. sagitta an arrow.] (Astron.) (a) The ninth of the twelve signs of the zodiac, which the sun enters about November 22; the Archer. (b) A zodiacal constellation, represented on maps and globes as a centaur shooting an arrow. Salient, a. (Math.) Projecting outwardly; as, a salient angle; opposed to reëntering. -- Salient polygon (Geom.), a polygon all of whose angles are salient. -- Salient polyhedron (Geom.), a polyhedron all of whose solid angles are salient. Sample, n. (Stat.) a set chosen from a population and used to represent that population in the statistical methods being applied. Sampling error, n. (Stat.) the difference between the mean of the sample and the mean of the population from which that sample was drawn. |