\begin{definition}[Definition:Parametric Equation/Parameter]
Let $n \in \Z_{>0}$ be a positive integer.
Let:
:$\set {\phi_k: 1 \le k \le n}$
be a set of parametric equations such that:
:$x_k = \map {\phi_k} t$
for some independent variable $t$.
$t$ is referred to as the '''(independent) parameter''' of $\set {\phi_k: 1 \le k \le n}$.
\end{definition}