Tuple names

In philosophy, mathematics, and computer science, a tuple is an ordered list of elements. The term tuple originates from the sequence of names for such ordered lists, beginning with single, double, triple, and so forth. The specific name of a tuple depends on the number of elements it contains, typically indicated by a prefix derived from Latin or Greek numbering.

A 1-tuple is commonly called a single, while a 2-tuple is referred to as a double. Beyond these, the names continue as follows: a 3-tuple is a triple, a 4-tuple is a quadruple, a 5-tuple is a quintuple, a 6-tuple is a sextuple, a 7-tuple is a septuple, and so on. The general form for naming these tuples involves adding the suffix "-tuple" to the appropriate numerical prefix.

While the names of tuples are straightforward up to a certain number, they become less commonly used and more complex for higher numbers. For instance, an 8-tuple is an octuple, a 9-tuple is a nonuple, and a 10-tuple is a decuple. Beyond these, terms are rarely used in practice, and the notation "n-tuple" is preferred, where n is the number of elements.

In computer science, tuples are used to group a fixed number of items, often implemented as product types in functional programming languages. Tuples are also utilized in relational databases to describe rows or records. In this context, each row in a table can be considered a tuple, with its elements corresponding to the fields of the row.

Tuples are usually denoted by listing the elements within parentheses "( )", separated by commas; for example, (3, 5, 8) represents a 3-tuple. In some contexts, other delimiters such as square brackets or angle brackets may be used.

The specific names of tuples not only facilitate communication in mathematics and computer science but also help in understanding the structure and properties of these ordered collections. Understanding these names and their origins can provide insight into the nature of sequences and their applications across various fields.

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Here are some words for tuple names.

Names for tuples of specific lengths

Tuple length, Name Alternative names
0 empty tuple null tuple / empty sequence / unit
1 single tuple/solo
2 double duo
3 triple trio
4 quadruple quad / tetrad / quartet
5 quintuple pentuple
6 sextuple hextuple / hexad / half dozen
7 septuple
8 octuple octa / octet / octad / octo
9 nonuple nuleip
10 decuple deka / cent
11 undecuple hendecuple / hendecad
12 duodecuple Dozen / dodeca
13 tredecuple Baker's dozen
14 quattuordecuple double septuple
15 quindecuple triple quintuple
16 sexdecuple quadruple quadruple
17 septendecuple
18 octodecuple double nonuple
19 novemdecuple
20 vigintuple quadruple quintuple
30 trigintuple
40 quadragintuple
50 quinquagintuple
60 sexagintuple
70 septuagintuple
80 octogintuple
90 nonagintuple
100 centuple
200 ducentuple
300 trecentuple
400 quadringentuple
500 quingentuple
600 sescentuple
700 septingentuple
800 octingentuple
900 nongentuple
1000 milluple chiliad
2000 Bimilluple
10000 Decamilluple
1,000,000 Micruple
1,000,000.000 Nanuple
10^12 Picuple
10^15 Femtuple
10^18 Attuple
10^21 Zeptuple
10^24 Yoctuple
10^27 Rontuple
10^30 Quectuple
10^33 Bundectuple
10^36 Biduple
10^39 Triduple
10^42 Quadiduple
10^45 Quintiduple
10^48 Sextiduple
10^51 Septiduple
10^54 Octiduple
10^57 Noniduple
10^60 Voguple

This chart does not show every tuple.