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    -1: In scientific computational software, Epsilon refers to either Machine epsilon or Relative epsilon (see same article). Typically, this is not the same quantity used in accepting approximate equality, because rounding errors are multiples of machine epsilons or relative epsilons, and typically a few order of magnitudes bigger than that. Commented Aug 8, 2013 at 19:30
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    @rwong That is one specialisation of the term epsilon, and there are many other. In engineering in general, epsilon does refer to a small quantity or an error and Machine epsilon is compatible with that idea. Commented Aug 8, 2013 at 22:47
  • @assylias, using a name which has a standard definition, in a context where the standard definition makes sense, but for something which isn't corresponding to the standard definition is a receipt for problems. Commented Aug 11, 2013 at 14:18
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    @AProgrammer I disagree that the general definition of epsilon is not applicable to computing. Commented Aug 11, 2013 at 17:43
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    @assylias: thanks for the clarification. I have removed my -1. Commented Aug 11, 2013 at 20:09