a practical number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a practical number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to a number that has real-world applications or usefulness, often in mathematical or theoretical discussions. Example: "In our calculations, we found that 12 is a practical number for organizing the seating arrangement."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Simulation results demonstrate that the developed analytical framework provides a good approximation for a practical number of antennas.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Therefore for a practical number of candidate allocations the performances of the two mechanisms are identical as shown in the simulations that follow.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In order to enable learning in a practical number of trials, we introduce a low-dimensional representation of the state of the robot for higher-level planning.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Selective averaging assumes that the fMRI signal consists of task-dependent signal, random noise, and non-task dependent brain signal that can be modeled as random noise so that it tends to zero when averaged over a practical number of trials.

Journal of Neuroscience Methods

This seems like an extreme, difficult case, yet our results show that even it can be solved by sequencing a practical number of mutant strains (see Fig. 2C).

Plosone

Our experimental design purposely exaggerated the absolute risk of fly parasitism for females so that we could examine differences in relative risk using a practical number of replicates.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

To reduce the proteins within the dataset to a more practical number, a total of 8 protein spots, that fall in the intersection of the above two data sets, were selected.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

However, in a practical application, the number of feasible blocks will be limited.

Business Research

Bitcoin has hardly hit mainstream adoption and so as a practical matter, the number of users buying NBA seats or booking space travel via Bitcoin is pretty insignificant.

TechCrunch

This performance would be satisfactory for a practical use, the number of false positives being around 1.5 per month.

BMC Infectious Diseases

bSupposing the existence of a practical delay constraint, the number of retransmissions was limited to M = 4.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing research or experimental design, use "a practical number" to indicate a sample size or replication count that is both achievable and sufficient for meaningful results. This emphasizes feasibility without sacrificing statistical power.

Common error

Avoid using "a practical number" when you intend to convey the smallest possible quantity. "Practical" implies a balance between feasibility and effectiveness, not merely the lowest value. For instance, don't describe the bare minimum number of participants in a study as "a practical number" if that number is insufficient for reliable data; instead, aim for a number that yields meaningful conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a practical number" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It specifies that the number being referred to is not just any number, but one that is useful and realistic in a given situation. Ludwig examples highlight the phrase's use in academic and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a practical number" is used to describe a quantity that is both feasible and effective, balancing achievability with utility. Ludwig AI analysis shows that this phrase is grammatically correct and most commonly appears in science and technical writing. When choosing alternatives, consider whether you need to emphasize feasibility, reasonableness, or utility. Remember that while "practical" implies a balance, it doesn't necessarily mean the smallest number; it signifies a number suitable for a specific goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a feasible quantity

Replaces 'practical' with 'feasible', emphasizing the attainability or possibility of the number.

a reasonable amount

Substitutes 'number' with 'amount' and 'practical' with 'reasonable', focusing on the acceptability of the quantity.

a viable quantity

Replaces 'practical' with 'viable', stressing the workability and effectiveness of the number.

a realistic figure

Uses 'figure' instead of 'number' and 'realistic' instead of 'practical', highlighting the achievability of the value.

a workable total

Changes 'number' to 'total' and 'practical' to 'workable', emphasizing the functionality of the aggregate.

a useful quantity

Replaces 'practical' with 'useful', emphasizing the helpfulness or value of the number.

a suitable figure

Replaces 'number' with 'figure' and 'practical' with 'suitable', highlighting the appropriateness of the value.

an applicable amount

Replaces 'practical' with 'applicable', emphasizing that the amount is relevant and appropriate to the specific situation.

a serviceable total

Replaces 'practical' with 'serviceable', emphasizing the functionality and utility of the amount.

a pragmatic value

Replaces 'practical' with 'pragmatic' and 'number' with 'value' to underscore the real-world utility.

FAQs

How can I use "a practical number" in a sentence?

Use "a practical number" to refer to a quantity that is both feasible to obtain or implement and sufficient for a specific purpose. For example, "We aimed to sequence "a practical number of mutant strains" to solve this difficult case".

What are some alternatives to "a practical number"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a feasible quantity", "a reasonable amount", or "a viable quantity".

When is it appropriate to use "a practical number"?

It's appropriate when discussing quantities that need to be both achievable and effective. For example, in experimental design, you might aim for "a practical number of replicates" to balance resources and statistical power.

Is "practical number" always the best choice for describing an amount?

Not always. If you want to emphasize the exact amount needed, consider using specific numeric descriptors instead. If feasibility isn't a key consideration, other terms might be more appropriate. Use "a practical number" when highlighting the balance between what's achievable and what's useful.