derived curve

These empirically derived curves can be expressed in mathematical form if the range of the variables is limited to practical values.

By performing Markov chain analysis on bibliometric data on the field of symbolic logic, Goffman derived curves which represented the growth of major concepts, and the oscillation of research activity.

For many situations, extrapolations of the derived curves can be made to obtain values outside the measurement range, although the validity of such extrapolations depends on the circumstances and the smoothness of the curve in question.