Which one to use: maximum/maximal, minimum/minimal
Hello!
As far as I am an engineer, I often have to use these adjectives to characterize physical parameters: weight, speed, angles, areas and so on. And I'm still not sure about correct use above forms of these adjectives, I've seen both ways. But which one is the most appropriate?
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Answers · 5
1
Maximum
Minimum
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David harris: Very useful note about "As far as", I will remember that!
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Thank you guys! )
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Not too much difference. Most people probably use Maximum/minimum (which can be a noun as well as an adjective, whereas Maximal is just an adjective). Strictly "Maximal" is referring to a maximum, but effectively means the same.
(PS it should be "As/Since I am an engineer", not "As far as ". Crazy pernickety language!)
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They are synonyms, so both are correct. Both "maximum" and "maximal" are used as noun AND adjective.
I generally use "maximum" as a noun and "maximal" as an adjective, because the ending -um usually suggests a noun and -al usually indicates an adjective, so I think this makes them more consistent with other English words. It just sounds more "correct" to me; "The maximal value was 0.7", "Maximal pressure was 1.2 bar". However, this is a personal preference, and you can also use "The maximum value was 0.7".
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