Dictionary.com actually has the two terms defined in the reverse of what you posted, but that is not really the point. Neither of these is a term that a contemporary mathematician would use, because they imply a very narrow understanding of what is involved in the concept of raising a number to a power. Extracting a root is one type of exponentiation, using a fractional exponent with a numerator of 1 (taking a square root uses the power of 1/2). The exponent can also be an integer (what most people expect to see, as in squaring the number with an exponent of 2), or a fraction such as 2/3 or 17/4, which produces an effect not simply summarised by a generic term. And it can get far more complex!

Nope, I copied them straight from dictionary.com. Have you defended both answers now?

involution:
Compare evolution ... etc.
evolution:
Compare involution ... etc.

And what you are saying tells me that this is so complex that it should not appear in a WW game if a mathematician has trouble with it.

When I looked at dictionary.com, I saw the following definitions (in the Collins Dictionary section - there are multiple definitions):

ev·o·lu·tion
5. (Mathematics) an algebraic operation in which the root of a number, expression, etc., is extracted Compare involution [6]
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/evolution

in·vo·lu·tion
6. (Mathematics) an algebraic operation in which a number, variable, expression etc., is raised to a specified power Compare evolution [5]
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/involution

I have no trouble with the definitions, but the terms are archaic, and the wording is misleading in its implications (not its essence) when read by a layman. One would only have used evolution to refer to the process of raising a number to a fractional exponent whose numerator is 1, also called extracting a root. One could have used involution to refer to ANY process of raising a number to a power, so fractions are included in that term, even though most people only think of integers when they visualise it.

A rectangle is a four-sided polygon with two pairs of parallel sides, and four right angles.
A square is a four-sided polygon with four sides of identical length and four right angles. Since it also has two pairs of parallel sides, it is a rectangle. Many people, however, only use the word rectangle to refer to an oblong, one with a length different from its width.

All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. Similarly, the mathematical process of evolution (as defined here) is a type of involution (as defined here).

For the last month Word Wizard is no longer letting me collect letters, has anyone else had this problem and how to you resolve the problem. Thank you, Nizard

The Mini-Game, i.e. where you collect letters, is a Gold member feature. Non-GMs can play the ordinary Word game but not that one. So is you were able to collect letters before you must have had Gold Membership for a while but presumably it has now expired.

Pick one:
1. Negotiable_instrument

a security pledged for the repayment of a loan

an unconditional order or promise to pay an amount of money

I pick Door #2, an unconditional order or promise to pay an amount of money. A security is different from the promise - my house is the security for my housing loan.

And I'd pick the other one because it's not "unconditional".

One from the current session:

3. Hit with the hand
Your answer: smite

smite means "inflict a heavy blow on, with the hand, a tool, or a weapon"

The correct answer was whomp

I'm thinking both words mean the same thing. :-/

I've seen this one several times, and it's easy enough to pick the "right" answer, but as I understand it, it has the before and after reversed:

ground zero

a young child
a man who has never been married
the site of the world trade center before it was destroyed
an entrance to an amphitheater or stadium
act of ascertaining or fixing the value or worth of
an act of deliberate betrayal


The World Trade Center was never called "Ground Zero" until AFTER it was destroyed...

I think the 'before it was destroyed' refers to the WTC not being in existence anymore, rather than the WTC being called Ground Zero pre-9/11. It's hard to explain; I mean that it says

the site of 'the World Trade Center before it was destroyed'
rather than
the site of the World Trade Center, before [the WTC] was destroyed

i.e. the site of what used to be the WTC, but then that was destroyed. Sorry if this is unclear - I know what I mean, but it's difficult putting it down in writing!

i.e., the site of the former World Trade Center

Sometimes I wonder if a definition is a British expression, or spelling or just a misspelling. Since British and American spelling and terms are sometimes similar but different, perhaps both could be given. To me, the defs seem to be mostly British - is this true, or is it just me. One example is about the gas (petrol) tank, do you top off or tip off?

No big deal, but...











9

Here in Australia we top up. There are many varieties of English, the American-British differences are just the start. The Word Wizard game uses a database (not on this site) that seems to me to use primarily American terms, especially a lot of the less formal usages. Over time, you get used to all the not-quite-right definitions, and even the occasional ones that are downright wrong, since they are beyond the control of the site.

We top up in the UK too - when we can afford to.

We do tip off at the start of a basketball game. I've never heard top off used other than in the phrase "to top it off", which means something like "The icing on the cake", the finishing touch.