a double inverted round curve
Also called an Ogive or Sigmoid curve. The pattern of many social changes: they begin very slowly, gradually accelerate, then slow down again as penetration approaches 100% of the population. This applies to many consumer products, and types of knowledge. Here's a typical S-curve, with time running from left to right and penetration increasing vertically
Two connected curves that alternate directions.
a data vs. time plot indicating a slow start, fast growth, and a leveling off due to limiting forces. ()
A display of cumulative costs, labour hours, or other quantities plotted against time.
The hydrograph, for a given river basin, that would theoretically result from a continuous, constant excess rainfall rate per specified period resulting in a runoff volume of 1.00 unit depth (e.g., 1.00 cm or 1.00 in.) over the basin for each period T. The curve has a characteristic S-shaped rising limb, reaching a constant final discharge rate equivalent to the constant excess rainfall rate multiplied by the area of the basin. An S-curve is constructed from a series of unit hydrographs of period by the simple process of successive displacement by and summing up the ordinates (discharge values). In theory, the unit hydrographs for storms of any duration may be derived from the resulting S-curve.
A graphic display of cumulative costs, labour hours, percentage of work, plotted against time. The name derives from the S-like curve of a project that starts slowly, accelerates and then tails off. Also a term for the cumulative likelihood distribution that is a result of simulation. (PMI)
