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What is Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety?

a) Variety is irrelevant in complex systems.
b) Systems with more variety are less adaptable.
c) The variety of a controller must be equal to or greater than the variety of the system it regulates.
d) Variety has no impact on system stability.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety states that the controller's variety must match or exceed that of the system it regulates, underscoring the importance of adaptability in managing complex systems. Option c is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety is a fundamental concept in cybernetics and systems theory, which deals with complex systems and their regulation. The correct answer to the question is: c) The variety of a controller must be equal to or greater than the variety of the system it regulates.

This principle explains that for a system to be effectively managed or controlled, the controller must have the ability to respond to every possible state of the system it oversees.

When applied to complex and chaotic systems, such as ecosystems or the human heart in the context of certain arrhythmias, this law becomes particularly interesting. It suggests that versatility and adaptability are key to maintaining stability in the face of unpredictable changes within a system.

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