Superadditive is a technical term in mathematics that refers to a property of a function or operation. The word is spelled as /su-pər-æ-dɪ-tɪv/ according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The prefix "super-" means above or beyond, while "additive" refers to a function that preserves addition. Superadditive functions, on the other hand, are those where the sum of two inputs is less than or equal to the output of those inputs together. This term is commonly used in game theory and economics to describe strategic decision-making.
Superadditive is an adjective used to describe a property or characteristic of a system in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This term is commonly used in mathematics, economics, and game theory to describe situations where the combined effect of multiple elements or players is larger than their individual contributions. It is often used as the opposite of subadditive.
In a superadditive system, the interaction or cooperation between the elements or players leads to an output or outcome that exceeds what would be expected based on their individual abilities, resources, or actions. This phenomenon is often observed in various cooperative settings, such as team projects, joint ventures, or collaborative efforts.
For example, in economics, a business partnership might be considered superadditive if the combined profits of the partners are higher than what they could have individually achieved. Similarly, in game theory, a coalition of players may superadditively gain more rewards or benefits by working together rather than pursuing individual strategies.
The concept of superadditivity also extends to mathematical functions or operations. In this context, a function is considered superadditive if the sum of the function's values for different inputs is always greater than or equal to the value of the function applied to the sum of those inputs. This property is often used in optimization problems or when analyzing the behavior of complex systems.
The word "superadditive" combines the prefix "super-", which is derived from the Latin word "super" meaning "above" or "over", and the term "additive", which is derived from the Latin word "additivus" meaning "that which is added". In mathematics, the term "additive" generally refers to a property or function that satisfies the additive identity and the additive property.
Therefore, "superadditive" is formed by combining "super" with "additive" to denote a property or function that goes beyond or surpasses the additive nature. In mathematics, the term is often used to describe functions or games in which the total value of combined inputs or actions is greater than the sum of their individual values.