Word: nontrivial (adjective)

Associations

The word "nontrivial" means something that is not simple or easy; it requires effort, attention, or skill. It is often used in math, science, and problem-solving to describe tasks or problems that are meaningful and not obvious.

• Example 1: "Solving this equation is a nontrivial problem." This means the problem is hard and needs careful work.
• Example 2: "The project involves nontrivial challenges." This means the challenges are serious and not easy to handle.
• Example 3: "Finding a nontrivial solution to the puzzle took hours." This means the solution was not simple or obvious.

A well-known synonym is "complex," but "nontrivial" usually emphasizes that something requires real effort or thought, while "complex" just means complicated or having many parts. So, "nontrivial" focuses more on the difficulty or importance.

Substitution

You can replace "nontrivial" with:

• difficult (but "difficult" is more general and emotional)
• challenging (focuses on the effort needed)
• significant (focuses on importance rather than difficulty)
• complex (focuses on complexity, not always difficulty)

Each replacement changes the tone slightly. For example, "challenging" sounds more positive, while "difficult" can sound negative.

Deconstruction

• "non-" is a prefix meaning "not."
• "trivial" comes from Latin "trivialis," meaning something common, simple, or unimportant. So, "nontrivial" literally means "not trivial," or "not simple/unimportant."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a task you found nontrivial in your studies or work?
• How would you explain the difference between a trivial and a nontrivial problem to a friend?
• Can you find examples where something looks simple but is actually nontrivial?