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def

intervalCost

definition
show as:
module
IndisputableMonolith.MusicTheory.Consonance
domain
MusicTheory
line
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plain-language theorem explainer

intervalCost supplies the dissonance measure for any frequency ratio r by direct alias to the J-cost function. Music theorists modeling consonance via Recognition Science cite it to establish that only the unison has zero cost. The definition is a one-line alias to Jcost r.

Claim. For real $r$, the interval cost is defined by $J(r)$, where $J(x) = (x + x^{-1})/2 - 1$.

background

In the MusicTheory.Consonance module the interval cost is introduced after importing the Cost module, which supplies the J-cost function. J-cost quantifies deviation from unity via the Recognition Composition Law and satisfies Jcost_eq_zero_iff for positive r. The local setting treats musical intervals as positive real ratios whose cost is measured on the phi-ladder.

proof idea

One-line definition that aliases intervalCost r to Jcost r.

why it matters

The definition feeds consonance_is_jcost and dissonance_is_high_jcost, which equate zero interval cost with the unison and positive cost with all other intervals. It instantiates the J-uniqueness step (T5) of the forcing chain inside the music-theory domain, allowing consonance to be read off the same cost function used for mass and coupling constants.

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