ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Net (mathematics)

Imagine you have a giant web of connections between different things, like a spiderweb. In math, we call this a "graph."

The connections between things in the graph are called "edges," and the things themselves are called "nodes."

Now, let's say we want to figure out something about this graph - like, how tightly connected the nodes are, or which nodes are the most important.

This is where the concept of a "net" comes in. A net is a type of mathematical calculation that can help us understand graphs better.

Basically, a net is a way to assign a certain value to each node in the graph, based on how connected it is to other nodes. The more connections a node has, the higher its value will be.

By using a net, we can better understand the structure of the graph, and use that information to solve all sorts of problems.

Overall, a net is a way to help us make sense of complex connections between things. It's like a map for understanding how everything is related!