11.26 Key Terms and Technical Vocabulary in Context Worksheet

[1] In statistics and everyday speech, writers sometimes rely on one word to carry two related ideas. [2] Early in this excerpt, 'variance' points to a difference or disagreement. [3] Midway through, the author tightens the term by adding an operational definition: 'variance' is treated as a measure of spread: the average squared distance from the mean. [4] The budget table that follows uses 'variance' in that operational sense to compare options on a single scale. [5] The closing lines return to the broader goal, but the calculations depend on the narrower meaning.

[1] In physics and urban planning, writers sometimes rely on one word to carry two related ideas. [2] Early in this excerpt, 'density' points to how crowded an area feels. [3] Midway through, the author tightens the term by adding an operational definition: 'density' is treated as mass per unit volume, or in planning, people or housing units per area with specific measurement units. [4] The budget table that follows uses 'density' in that operational sense to compare options on a single scale. [5] The closing lines return to the broader goal, but the calculations depend on the narrower meaning.

[1] In geography and economics, writers sometimes rely on one word to carry two related ideas. [2] Early in this excerpt, 'capital' points to a city that serves as the seat of government. [3] Midway through, the author tightens the term by adding an operational definition: 'capital' is treated as resources used to produce value, such as money, skills, or equipment. [4] The budget table that follows uses 'capital' in that operational sense to compare options on a single scale. [5] The closing lines return to the broader goal, but the calculations depend on the narrower meaning.