But if you had told me to just to cut back, the cutback would have been an arbitrary number, rather than an informed decision.

FORBES: Four Simple Steps To More Conscious Spending

However, if a pattern develops of penalties that seem to arrive at an arbitrary number instead of one that bears some relation to the harm caused by the offending conduct, that would be cause for concern.

FORBES: Judging The SEC's Division Of Enforcement With 20/20 Foresight

The standing order is for the Air Force to increase that number of air patrols to 65 a day by May 2014, although officials say that is an arbitrary number not based on an analysis of future combat requirements.

NPR: Military Weighs Cutbacks, Shifts In Drone Programs

Again, this is an arbitrary deadline on a number of moving parts politicians already kicked once from 2010 to 2013.

FORBES: A Secret $9 Billion and Other Predictions

Why make fans stay up until two or three in the morning and restrict the number of debut-night showings, studio executives reasoned, based on an arbitrary rule?

WSJ: Hollywood Stretches Out Movie 'Openings'