# Diversity factor

## Coincidence factor

The coincidence factor is the reciprocal of the diversity factor. However, differing sources define the simultaneity factor to be identical to either the coincidence factor or the diversity factor. The International Electrotechnical Commission defines the coincidence and simultaneity factors identically with the diversity factor being the reciprocal. Since the only change in definition is to take the inverse, all one needs to know is if the factor is greater than or less than one.

## Diversity

The (unofficial) term diversity, as distinguished from diversity factor refers to the percent of time available that a machine, piece of equipment, or facility has its maximum or nominal load or demand (a 70% diversity means that the device in question operates at its nominal or maximum load level 70% of the time that it is connected and turned on).

## Diversified load and diversification factor

The diversified load is the total expected load (power) to be drawn during a peak period by a device or system of devices. The diversified load is the combination of each devices full load capacity, Utilization Factor, Diversity Factor, Demand Factor and the Load factor(electrical)|load factor. This process is referred to as load diversification. The diversification factor is then defined as:

$f_{Diversification} = \frac{\text{Diversified Load}}{\text{Maximum system load}}$

## In mathematics

Diversity factor is commonly used for a number of mathematics-related topics. One such instance is when completing a coordination study for a system. This diversity factor is used to estimate the load of a particular node in the system.