Abstract
In the slow evolution of the International vocabulary of metrology (VIM), the first concept of ‘quantity’ has now been divided generically into ‘ordinal quantity’ and a coordinate primitive without definition and term. An analysis of the concepts by their characteristics is made, and the nature of inheritance is discussed in response to a recent communication in this journal. A completion of the initiated generic division of ‘quantity’ is suggested, and a neoterm for the sister of ‘ordinal quantity’ is offered on the basis of two proposals.
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In this text, single quotation marks (‘…') indicate a concept, double quotation marks (“…”) a term or a quote.
References
BIPM, IEC, ISO, OIML (1984) International vocabulary of basic and general terms in metrology. ISO, 1st edn. ISO, Geneva, pp 40
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JCGM (2008) International vocabulary of metrology—Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM), 3rd edn. JCGM 200, BIPM, Sèvres, pp xiv+92. http://www.bipm.org/vim. Accessed July 2011
Fuentes-Arderiu X (2011) Scalar and ordinal quantities. Accred Qual Assur 16:273
Dybkaer R (2004) An ontology on property for physical, chemical, and biological systems. APMIS vol 112(suppl 117), pp 210; updated at http://ontology.iupac.org. Accessed July 2011
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The author is a member of the Joint Committee on Guides in Metrology (JCGM), Working Group 2 (VIM). The opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily represent the view of the Working Group.
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Dybkaer, R. Generic division of ‘quantity’ and related terms. Accred Qual Assur 16, 649–651 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-011-0823-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-011-0823-9