This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
tour de finition
son adversaire

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

en progression géométrique

English translation:

(grows) geometrically

Added to glossary by Andy Tolle
Aug 4, 2009 22:52
14 yrs ago
French term

en progression géométrique

French to English Science Mathematics & Statistics
The title of this part of the book is called "CROISSANCE DU MOUVEMENT EN PROGRESSION GEOMETRIQUE"

it describes basically that with a previous publication of a certain method, the author found that when people succeed in this method, for each success, there are several people interested and from each interested person there often arises a new practitioner... hence the math relation for which I'm looking a translation:

-

... je reçois un nombre progressivement croissant de lettres de lecteurs qui, ayant appliquée la méthode correctement, ont obtenu des résultats analogues.
Bien souvent, chaque adepte qui réussit une telle expérience nous amène plusieurs sympathisants, parmi lesquels se trouve souvent un nouveau pratiquant.

Même en tenant compte de la difficulté que rencontre toujours toute idée neuve à percer, il est certain maintenant que le nombre d'Adeptes croîtra ainsi en progression géométrique.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 (grows) geometrically
4 +5 geometric progression

Discussion

Andy Tolle (asker) Aug 5, 2009:
That's the one :) Thanks a lot Chris... that's the one I was looking for. If you care for the points, maybe you could make an entry so that I can account you some kudoz-points?

Either way, thanks a ton, feels like a big relief to be able to close this one mentally.
chris collister Aug 5, 2009:
exponential? Andy, if you wish to avoid "exponential" since it occurs later, it would be perfectly OK to say that the "number will grow geometrically": forget the "progression", since this is understood.
Dr Lofthouse Aug 5, 2009:
in some mathematical cases, it is the same as 'exponential growth' (described in <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_growth>) - and this would be a better colloquial expression to describe rapid growth out of a mathematical context.
In this context, since the author is referring to 'a movement' (group of like minded people) adopting this technique - I'd translate it as along the lines of 'the number of practitioners is growing exponentially' -
Andy Tolle (asker) Aug 5, 2009:
Thanks Thanks Chris, I appreciate the suggestions. For this particular piece of text, I'd like to stay away from 'exponential growth': this part of the book illustrates that there is a certain growth and in the end it suggest this growth will soon turn into an 'exponential growth', so using 'exponential growth' for this title, would not be very consistent in this case.

The term "geometric progression" itself, lets say I'd like to use this term in the sentences provided, how would I go about that?
chris collister Aug 5, 2009:
exponential Since the text is descriptive rather than mathematically rigorous, I think "exponential growth" would fit well. An exponential series is certainly a geometric progression of a kind. Sometimes one refers (loosely) to "geometric growth", where the "progressiion" is understood.
Andy Tolle (asker) Aug 5, 2009:
I agree that many things can be found about progressions. What I am looking for here is how to use the word, because I have not the faintest idea how:

Let's say I want to translate this title: "CROISSANCE EN PROGRESSION GEOMETRIQUE"
Is it then correct to say: "growth by geometric progression"? Or should it be "geometrically progressing growth"? "growth in a geometric progression" seems possible as well.

In other words in the sentences provided in the question, how do I use the word there?
chris collister Aug 5, 2009:
progressions... There is plenty of discussion on geometric and arithmetic progression (and decay) in many places on the internet.

Proposed translations

+1
17 hrs
Selected

(grows) geometrically

see lengthy discussion above.
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M : 'is going to grow', of course
4 hrs
beh, oui...
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "As explained in the discussion: whereas both these suggested translations are right, this particular one was most helpful to me. Thanks for the help to both of you."
+5
1 hr

geometric progression

see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_progression

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-08-05 00:08:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

she's suggesting the number of people who support her views is growing rapidly, using this mathematical term to describe how rapidly

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2009-08-05 12:30:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'exponentially' could be used here - but be careful if this gets entered in the glossary - strictly speaking , mine is a mathematical translation, and chris' 'suggestion of 'exponential' is a colloquial translation
Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_progression

Note from asker:
Dr Lofthouse, I agree this is the correct translation and I thank you for this contribution. I see now that I didn't express myself all too well what my actual question was, would you be willing to read the discussion and maybe leave a comment there?
Peer comment(s):
agree chris collister
7 hrs
agree kashew
8 hrs
agree George C.
12 hrs
agree Trinh Do : Definitely!
12 hrs
agree m'self!
agree Nektaria Notaridou
7 days
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search