Symmetric vs. Symmetrical

By Jaxson

  • Symmetrical

    Symmetry (from Greek συμμετρία symmetria “agreement in dimensions, due proportion, arrangement”) in everyday language refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. In mathematics, “symmetry” has a more precise definition, that an object is invariant to any of various transformations; including reflection, rotation or scaling. Although these two meanings of “symmetry” can sometimes be told apart, they are related, so in this article they are discussed together.

    Mathematical symmetry may be observed with respect to the passage of time; as a spatial relationship; through geometric transformations; through other kinds of functional transformations; and as an aspect of abstract objects, theoretic models, language, music and even knowledge itself.

    This article describes symmetry from three perspectives: in mathematics, including geometry, the most familiar type of symmetry for many people; in science and nature; and in the arts, covering architecture, art and music.

    The opposite of symmetry is asymmetry.

Wikipedia
  • Symmetric (adjective)

    Symmetrical.

  • Symmetric (adjective)

    Of a relation R on a set S, such that xRy if and only if yRx for all members x and y of S (that is, if the relation holds between any element and a second, it also holds between the second and the first).

    “”Is a sibling of” is a symmetric relation.”

  • Symmetric (adjective)

    Using the same key (or keys that are trivially related) for both encryption and decryption.

  • Symmetrical (adjective)

    Exhibiting symmetry; having harmonious or proportionate arrangement of parts; having corresponding parts or relations.

Wiktionary
  • Symmetric (adjective)

    made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis; symmetrical

    “the structure is completely symmetric”

Oxford Dictionary

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