Chaos Theory
Construct Definition
Formally, chaos theory is defined as the study of complex nonlinear dynamic systems. Complex implies complicated and interconnected, nonlinear implies recursion and higher mathematical algorithms, and dynamic implies non-constant and non-periodic. Thus chaos theory is, very generally, the study of forever changing complex systems based on mathematical concepts of recursion, whether in the form of a recursive process or a set of differential equations modelling a physical system. Chaos theory therefore predicts that complex nonlinear systems are inherently unpredictable, but assures us that the way to express such an unpredictable system lies not in exact equations, but in the systems representations of its behaviour. Chaos theory, which many think is about unpredictability, is at the same time about predictability in even the most unstable systems.