equation

[ih-kwey-zhuh n, -shuh n] /ɪˈkweɪ ʒən, -ʃən/

noun

the act of equating or making equal; equalization:

the symbolic equation of darkness with death.

equally balanced state; equilibrium.

Mathematics. an expression or a proposition, often algebraic, asserting the equality of two quantities.

Also called chemical equation. Chemistry. a symbolic representation showing the kind and amount of the starting materials and products of a reaction.

Origin

1350-1400; Middle English < Latin aequātiōn- (stem of aequātiō) an equalizing. See equate, -ion

Related forms

nonequation, noun

Examples from the web for equations

The former first taught the method of expressing curves by equations.
The time machine is a computer model of the atmosphere, built not from air and water vapor but from data and equations.
Here's a tale of two equations that represent human exchange.
His office was cluttered with textbooks and academic journals, and on one wall there was a whiteboard covered with equations.
In the world of terrorism studies, the rhetoric of righteousness gives way to equilibrium equations.
In pursuit of it, he conducted elaborate experiments in the science of tea-making, deriving equations for brewing the perfect cup.
He went to see his high-school science teacher, and covered the blackboard with drawings and equations.
But there is nothing about actually being able to model a system by its equations, or solve it using mathematical techniques.
And remember not to define the parameters of any equations you use.
He counted off for grammatical and spelling errors on an engineering test that was mostly equations and calculations.

British Dictionary definitions for equations

equation

/ɪˈkweɪʒən; -ʃən/

noun

a mathematical statement that two expressions are equal: it is either an identity in which the variables can assume any value, or a conditional equation in which the variables have only certain values (roots)

the act of regarding as equal; equating

the act of making equal or balanced; equalization

a situation, esp one regarded as having a number of conflicting elements: what you want doesn't come into the equation

the state of being equal, equivalent, or equally balanced

a situation or problem in which a number of factors need to be considered

See chemical equation

(astronomy) See personal equation

Derived Forms

equational, adjective
equationally, adverb

Word Origin and History for equations

equation

late 14c., a term in astrology; meaning "action of making equal" is from 1650s; mathematical sense is from 1560s, on notion of equalizing the expressions; from Latin aequationem (nominative aequatio) "an equal distribution, community," from past participle stem of aequare (see equal (adj.)). Chemistry sense is from 1807.

equations in Medicine

equation e·qua·tion (ĭ-kwā'zhən, -shən)
n.

A statement asserting the equality of two mathematical expressions, usually written as a linear array of symbols that are separated into left and right sides and are joined by an equal sign.
A representation of a chemical reaction, usually written as a linear array in which the symbols and quantities of the reactants are separated from those of the products by an equal sign, an arrow, or a set of opposing arrows.

equations in Science

equation

(ĭ-kwā'zhən)

Mathematics A written statement indicating the equality of two expressions. It consists of a sequence of symbols that is split into left and right sides joined by an equal sign. For example, 2 + 3 + 5 = 10 is an equation.
Chemistry A written representation of a chemical reaction, in which the symbols and amounts of the reactants are separated from those of the products by an equal sign, arrow, or a set of opposing arrows. For example, Ca(OH)₂ + H₂SO₄ = CaSO₄ + 2H₂O, is an equation.

equations in Culture

equation definition

An expression of equality between two formulas in mathematics. The two formulas are written with an equal sign between them: 2 + 2 = 4 is an equation, as is E = mc2.