within delta of

within delta of
 adj.

   See {delta}.
    

delta
within delta of

   1. A quantitative change, especially a small or incremental
   one (this use is general in physics and engineering).  "I just
   doubled the speed of my program!"  "What was the delta on
   program size?"  "About 30 percent."  (He doubled the speed of
   his program, but increased its size by only 30 percent.)

   2. [Unix] A {diff}, especially a {diff} stored under the set
   of version-control tools called SCCS (Source Code Control
   System) or RCS (Revision Control System).  See {change
   management}.

   3. A small quantity, but not as small as {epsilon}.  The
   jargon usage of {delta} and {epsilon} stems from the
   traditional use of these letters in mathematics for very small
   numerical quantities, particularly in "epsilon-delta" proofs
   in limit theory (as in the differential calculus).  The term
   {delta} is often used, once {epsilon} has been mentioned, to
   mean a quantity that is slightly bigger than {epsilon} but
   still very small.  "The cost isn't epsilon, but it's delta"
   means that the cost isn't totally negligible, but it is
   nevertheless very small.  Common constructions include "within
   delta of ---", "within epsilon of ---": that is, "close to"
   and "even closer to".

   [{Jargon File}]

   (2000-08-02)