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Chapter 4
Functional Elements and
the Functional Domain
4.1 Functional Elements
As we discussed in section 1.3, to each physical object there correspond two basi-
cally different descriptions — the description of what the object is (its physical
substance), and the description of what the object does (its functionality). e for-
mer consists of such data as size, shape, material specification, surface finish, etc.,
presented in the form of drawings, schedules, etc., and is what is needed by some-
one who wishes to reproduce (manufacture) the object. e latter consists of a set
of performance specifications, in the form of mathematical functions,