primal

adj 1: serving as an essential component; "a cardinal rule"; "the

central cause of the problem"; "an example that was

fundamental to the argument"; "computers are

fundamental to modern industrial structure" [syn: {cardinal},

{central}, {fundamental}, {key}]

2: having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or

original stage or state; "aboriginal forests"; "primal

eras before the appearance of life on earth"; "the forest

primeval"; "primordial matter"; "primordial forms of life"

[syn: {aboriginal}, {primeval}, {primaeval}, {primordial}]

optimal

1. Describes a solution to a problem which

minimises some {cost function}. {Linear programming} is one

technique used to discover the optimal solution to certain

problems.

2. Of code: best or most efficient in time,

space or code size.

(1995-10-05)