The term potential function may refer to:
- A mathematical function whose values are a physical potential.
- The class of functions known as harmonic functions, which are the topic of study in potential theory.
- The potential function of a potential game.
- A function used in the potential method of amortized analysis to describe an investment of resources by past operations that can be used by future operations.
Famous quotes containing the words potential and/or function:
“Laughing at someone else is an excellent way of learning how to laugh at oneself; and questioning what seem to be the absurd beliefs of another group is a good way of recognizing the potential absurdity of many of one’s own cherished beliefs.”
—Gore Vidal (b. 1925)
“The information links are like nerves that pervade and help to animate the human organism. The sensors and monitors are analogous to the human senses that put us in touch with the world. Data bases correspond to memory; the information processors perform the function of human reasoning and comprehension. Once the postmodern infrastructure is reasonably integrated, it will greatly exceed human intelligence in reach, acuity, capacity, and precision.”
—Albert Borgman, U.S. educator, author. Crossing the Postmodern Divide, ch. 4, University of Chicago Press (1992)