smallestintegerfunction
nounUK /ˈsmɔːlɪst ˈɪntɪdʒə ˈfʌŋkʃən/
US /ˈsmɔːlɪst ˈɪntɪdʒər ˈfʌŋkʃən/
A math rule that gives you the smallest whole number that is not less than a given number.
The smallest integer function turns 3.2 into 4.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A function that maps each real number to the least integer greater than or equal to it.
For x = -1.5, the smallest integer function gives -1.
3. The ceiling operation used in computer programming to round values upward.
The program applies the smallest integer function to fit items into whole boxes.
4. A step function whose graph looks like a staircase rising to the right.
The graph of the smallest integer function jumps up at every whole number.