equation

equation
/i kway"zheuhn, -sheuhn/, n.
1. the act of equating or making equal; equalization: the symbolic equation of darkness with death.
2. equally balanced state; equilibrium.
3. Math. an expression or a proposition, often algebraic, asserting the equality of two quantities.
4. Chem. a symbolic representation showing the kind and amount of the starting materials and products of a reaction.
[1350-1400; ME < L aequation- (s. of aequatio) an equalizing. See EQUATE, -ION]

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I
Statement of equality between two expressions consisting of variables and/or numbers.

In essence, equations are questions, and the development of mathematics has been driven by attempts to find answers to those questions in a systematic way. Equations vary in complexity from simple algebraic equations (involving only addition or multiplication) to differential equations, exponential equations (involving exponential expressions), and integral equations. They are used to express many of the laws of physics. See also system of equations.
II
(as used in expressions)
Green Bank equation
Laplace's equation
motion equation of
state equation of
Maxwell's equations

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Universalium. 2010.

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