Learn English – “Feasible”, “possible” or “potential” solution

collocationword-choice

I am trying to understand the difference, if any, between feasible, possible and potential. Most online dictionaries report them as synonyms. Is this right?

More specifically, I want to use these terms in the context of a maximization problem (that is a mathematical problem where a user-defined function should be maximized with respect to some input variables). Referring to all the input combinations of the function, which term should I use? Or is it simply a matter of style?

The phrase reads:

The variables define the search space which includes all the … voltage patterns.

*I control the voltage patterns. The goal is to find the voltage pattern that maximizes my function.

P.S. I have also encountered the term candidate solutions to describe the possible solutions.

Best Answer

In some contexts feasible and possible have very similar meanings.

It is feasible to get the train to Paris.
It is possible to get the train to Paris.

I would see both of these as conveying the same idea.

I would use feasible when I have a more specific goal:

It is feasible for me to get the train to Paris in time for the 10:30 meeting.

the defining characteristic being implications of the duration of journey and scheduling of a suitable service, and availability of seats. The conditionality being intrinsic to the course of action.

I would use possible when the constraints are not just the travel but also my own availability (and perhaps being somewhat evasive) my own preference.

It is not possible for me to get the train to paris in time for the 8:30 meeting.
(not specifying that I simply am not getting up at 04:30 to do that)

Possible also has connotations of situations that arise outside my control. 

It is possible that the train may be delayed.
It is possible that it will rain tomorrow.

I don't think we would say

It is feasible that it will rain tomorrow.

Potential doesn't seem quite to fit any of those scenarios, butI think in general it has a feeling of the unrealised, of a specific thing that has yet to happen and may not, it may for ever be unrealised.

He had the potential to be a great Rugby player until he suffered concussion.

I mention the above to give a flavour the nuances that separate these synonyms.

In your context we are talking about voltage patterns, and I can see merit in all three

In your sentence my instinct is:

Potential is less good because I don't believe it works well when dealing with a wide range of outcomes, and trivially, because Potential Difference is a synonym for Voltage.

Feasible seems technically correct, in that the real determinant of the candidate set of patterns is your ability to create them, its under your control, it's what you are capable of "making" as in the etymology of Feasible from the French "faire".

However I would use Possible, as I think this is a theoretic problem where you will calculate answers to specified inputs and may never actually "make" anything at all.

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