Noun
upper limit (plural upper limits)
(mathematical analysis) The upper limit of a sequence of real numbers is the real number which can be found as follows: remove the first term of the sequence in order to obtain the "first subsequence." Then remove the first term of the first subsequence in order to obtain the "second subsequence." Repeat the removal of first terms in order to obtain a "third subsequence," "fourth subsequence," etc. Find the supremum of each of these subsequences, then find the infimum of all of these supremums. This infimum is the upper limit.
There is presumably an upper limit to the carrying capacity of humans on earth-of the numbers that agriculture can support-and that number is usually estimated at between 13-15 billion, though some people think the ultimate numbers might be much higher. Niles Eldredge
The laws of economics are subject to the laws of physics. The physical processes that govern this planet and the continued life upon it place as stringent an upper limit on economic growth as the speed of light does on our knowledge of the universe. Ian McDonald
The upper limit of cell size is probably set by the rate of diffusion of solute molecules in aqueous systems. Albert L. Lehninger
I repeatedly have to correct this belief. In a sense, magnitude involves steps of 10 because every increase of one magnitude represents a tenfold amplification of the ground motion. But there is no 'scale of 10' in the sense of an upper limit. Charles Francis Richter
A fragment from Xenophanes (6th century BC) shows the transition from Chaos to Apeiron: "The upper limit of earth borders on air. Source: Internet
An administrator may specify a certain level of disk space that a user may use before they receive a warning, and then deny access to the user once they hit their upper limit of space. Source: Internet