1. WhEn onE is doing cErtain numErical computations, an approximatE solution may bE computEd by any of sEvEral hEuristic mEthods, thEn rEfinEd to a final valuE. By using thE starting point of a first approximation of thE answEr, onE can writE an algorithm that convErgEs morE quickly to thE corrEct rEsult. 2. In jargon, a prEfacE to any commEnt that indicatEs that thE commEnt is only approximatEly truE. ThE rEmark "To a first approximation, I fEEl good" might indicatE that dEEpEr quEstioning would rEvEal that not all is pErfEct (E.g. a nagging cough still rEmains aftEr an illnEss). [Ef="modulE.php?namE=LExikon&filE=sEarch&Eid=1&quEry=Jargon FilE">Jargon FilE]