What does does the expression "alphas and betas" refers to in the English language?

Question

I am translating some documents from English to French and I need to know what this expression means.

Answer 1

Alpha and beta are the first two of the Greek alphabet. Used in English to mean "First and subsequent" most often. Sometimes will refer to an entire set.

Answer 2

al·pha (ăl'fə)
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[Greek, of Phoenician origin.]

noun
The first letter of the Greek alphabet.
The first one; the beginning.
Chemistry The first position from a designated carbon atom in an organic molecule at which an atom or radical may be substituted.
Astronomy The brightest or main star in a constellation.
The mathematical estimate of the return on a security when the return on the market as a whole is zero. Alpha is derived from a in the formula R = a + bR, which measures the return on a security ( R ) for a given return on the market ( R ) where b is beta.
adjective
Being the highest ranked or most dominant individual of one's sex. Used of social animals: the alpha female of the wolf pack.
Chemistry Closest to the functional group of atoms in an organic molecule.
Alphabetical
BETA
noun
The second letter of the Greek alphabet.
The second item in a series or system of classification.
A mathematical measure of the sensitivity of rates of return on a portfolio or a given stock compared with rates of return on the market as a whole. A beta of 1.0 indicates that an asset closely follows the market; a beta greater than 1.0 indicates greater volatility than the market.
Physics
A beta particle.
A beta ray.
Chemistry
The second position from a designated carbon atom in an organic molecule at which an atom or a radical may be substituted.
An isomeric variation of a chemical compound. Used in combination: beta-estradiol.
Computer Science A beta version.

Answer 3

I think you need to look at the context of the rest of the document to be sure, but used just as you expressed it, then baldninja2004 is most likely correct: it refers to dominants (alphas) and submissives (betas), and is most often used to describe wolves or dogs in a pack.

Answer 4

While I've never heard that expression, I'm sure it's referring to "alpha males" and "beta males", in which alpha is the dominant and beta is the submissive.

Answer 5

Alpha = a
Beta = b

Answer 6

a and bs