fudge factor
A value or parameter that is varied in an ad hoc way to produce the desired
result. The terms "tolerance" and slop are also used, though these usually
indicate a one-sided leeway, such as a buffer that is made larger than necessary
because one isn't sure exactly how large it needs to be, and it is better to
waste a little space than to lose completely for not having enough. A fudge
factor, on the other hand, can often be tweaked in more than one direction. A
good example is the "fuzz" typically allowed in floating-point calculations: two
numbers being compared for equality must be allowed to differ by a small amount;
if that amount is too small, a computation may never terminate, while if it is
too large, results will be needlessly inaccurate. Fudge factors are frequently
adjusted incorrectly by programmers who don't fully understand their import. See
also coefficient of X.
Nearby terms:
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