Phrase guide

generating function

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A formal power series with one indeterminate, whose coefficients encode a sequence that can be studied by algebraic manipulation of the series; any one of several generalizations, such as to encode more than one sequence or use more than one indeterminate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: mathematics, sciences

Examples

  • 2003, Sergei K. Lando (author & translator), Lectures on Generating Functions, American Mathematical Society.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

The concept was introduced by French mathematician Abraham de Moivre in 1730.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: пораждаща функция (poraždašta funkcija) — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • Finnish: generoiva funktio — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • Finnish: emäfunktio — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • French: fonction génératrice — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • French: série génératrice — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • German: erzeugende Funktion — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • Italian: funzione generatrice — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • Portuguese: função geradora — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • Portuguese: função geratriz — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • Spanish: función generadora — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • Spanish: función generatriz — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence
  • Turkish: akım fonksiyonu — formal power series whose coefficients encode a sequence