measure zero

noun

Mathematics.

1. the property of a set of points for which, given any small number, there exists a set of intervals such that each point of the given set is contained in at least one of the intervals and such that, essentially, the combined length of the intervals is less than the small number.

Example Sentences

Mathematicians have generalized the notion of dimension to encompass sets that have dimensions that aren’t whole numbers, and I sometimes think of having measure zero as a symptom that could indicate that we’re measuring its area in the “wrong” dimension.

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