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One of my colleague keeps using "integrate against" as in the following sentence:

The component A is integrated against the platform B.

Google search shows several hundreds of the form. As far as I know, however, "integrate" is typically used along with the preposition "with" or "into".

Could someone guide me on what is the correct usage? If "against" can be used, in what context is it proper?

Thank you.

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    You could ask your colleague where they picked up the usage. I can't finfd many examples outside the maths domain.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Mar 26, 2018 at 10:14
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    Is it supposed to mean that component A is integrated into platform B?
    – Jim
    Mar 29, 2018 at 1:35
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    "Against" is valid in some uses in mathematics and related domains, but the term "integrate" there has a different meaning from the non-math term.
    – Hot Licks
    Mar 29, 2018 at 1:36
  • @Jim yes, it is.
    – Felipe1979
    Mar 29, 2018 at 8:00
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    @Felipe1979 - There probably are a handful of non-math contexts where "against" could be deemed appropriate, but they are rare.
    – Hot Licks
    Apr 4, 2018 at 12:04

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In mathematics, to integrate A against B means to perform the computation ∫ A dB or, occasionally, ∫ A B. In the usual English sense of the word integrate meaning to combine objects A and B, however, it is exclusively used with the prepositions with and into (see here, for example). I think your colleague has heard integrate against in the mathematical usage and has mistakenly assumed it to share the usual English meaning.

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