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Kozlov
Which one to use: maximum/maximal, minimum/minimal
Hello!
As far as I am an engineer, I often have to use these adjectives to characterize physical parameters: weight, speed, angles, areas and so on. And I'm still not sure about correct use above forms of these adjectives, I've seen both ways. But which one is the most appropriate?
2020년 4월 29일 오전 6:56
답변 · 5
1
Maximum
Minimum
2020년 4월 29일
David harris: Very useful note about "As far as", I will remember that!
2020년 4월 29일
Thank you guys! )
2020년 4월 29일
Not too much difference. Most people probably use Maximum/minimum (which can be a noun as well as an adjective, whereas Maximal is just an adjective). Strictly "Maximal" is referring to a maximum, but effectively means the same.
(PS it should be "As/Since I am an engineer", not "As far as ". Crazy pernickety language!)
2020년 4월 29일
They are synonyms, so both are correct. Both "maximum" and "maximal" are used as noun AND adjective.
I generally use "maximum" as a noun and "maximal" as an adjective, because the ending -um usually suggests a noun and -al usually indicates an adjective, so I think this makes them more consistent with other English words. It just sounds more "correct" to me; "The maximal value was 0.7", "Maximal pressure was 1.2 bar". However, this is a personal preference, and you can also use "The maximum value was 0.7".
2020년 4월 29일
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