Dictionary Definition
formula
Noun
1 a group of symbols that make a mathematical
statement [syn: expression]
2 directions for making something [syn: recipe]
3 a conventionalized statement expressing some
fundamental principle
4 a representation of a substance using symbols
for its constituent elements [syn: chemical
formula]
5 something regarded as a normative example; "the
convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule
not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors" [syn:
convention, normal, pattern, rule]
6 a liquid food for infants
7 (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving
a class of mathematical problems; "he determined the upper bound
with Descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for
attacking polynomials" [syn: rule] [also: formulae (pl)]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
From formula.- Any mathematical rule expressed symbolically.
- x = \frac is the formula for finding the roots of the quadratic equation y = ax2 + bx + c.
- A symbolic expression of the structure of a compound.
- H2O is the formula for water (Dihydrogen monoxide)
- A plan of action intended to solve a problem.
- A formulation; a
prescription; a
mixture or solution made in a prescribed manner; the
identity and quanties of ingredients of such a
mixture.
- The formula of the rocket fuel has not been revealed.
Synonyms
- (in mathematics): mathematical formula
- (in chemistry): chemical formula
Translations
in mathematics
in chemistry
Bosnian
Noun
formula (p: formule)- formula
- rule
Crimean Tatar
Noun
formulaDeclension
References
Useinov-Mireev 2002}}Italian
Extensive Definition
In mathematics and in the
sciences, a formula
(plural: formulae, formulæ or formulas) is a concise way of
expressing information symbolically (as in a mathematical or
chemical
formula), or a general relationship between quantities. One of
many famous formulae is Albert
Einstein's E = mc²
(see special
relativity).
In mathematics
In mathematics, a formula is a
key to solve an equation with variables. For
example, the problem of determining the volume of a sphere is one that requires a
significant amount of integral
calculus to solve. However, having done this once,
mathematicians can produce a formula to describe the volume in
terms of some other parameter (the radius for example). This
particular formula is:
- V =\frac \pi r^3.
(The \pi in this formula is the quantity pi). Having determined this result,
and having a sphere of which we know the radius we can quickly and
easily determine the volume. Note that the quantities V, the
volume, and r the radius are expressed as single letters. This
convention, while less important in a relatively simple formula,
means that mathematicians can more quickly manipulate larger and
more complex formulae.
In general mathematical use there is no essential
difference in meaning with the term "expression",
although the word "formula" tends to be reserved for an expression
that "can stand on its own", that has a meaning outside of the
immediate context in which it appears and a significance that can
be grasped intuitively.
The majority of all mathematical study revolves
around formulae in many different forms from quadratic
equations to the equations of motion (mainly used in mechanical
mathematics and physics). In a general context,
formulae are applied to provide a mathematical solution for real
world problems. Some may be general formulae designed to explain a
phenomenon experienced everywhere - an example is force = mass ×
acceleration. It is a formula which applies anywhere in the
universe. Other formulae may be specially created to solve a
particular problem - for example using the equation of a sine curve to
model the movement of the tides in a bay. In all cases however,
formulae form the basis for all calculations.
In computing
In computing, a formula typically
describes a calculation, such as addition, to be performed on two
or more variables. A formula is often implicitly provided in the
form of a computer
instruction such
as
- Total fruit = number of Apples + number of Oranges.
In computer spreadsheet terminology, a
formula is usually a text string
containing cell
references, e.g.
- =A1+A2
where both A1 and A2 describe "cells" (column A,
row 1 or 2) within the spreadsheet. The result appears within the
cell containing the formula itself (possibly A3, at end of values
in column A). The = sign precedes the right hand side of the
formula indicating the cell contains a formula rather than data.
The left hand side of the formula is, by convention, omitted
because the result is always stored in the cell itself and would be
redundant.
formula in Danish: Matematisk formel
formula in German: Formel (Mathematik)
formula in Esperanto: Formulo
formula in Irish: Foirmle
formula in Hindi: सूत्र
formula in Italian: Formula
formula in Hebrew: נוסחה
formula in Hungarian: Képlet
formula in Macedonian: Формула
formula in Malayalam: സൂത്രവാക്യം
formula in Japanese: 公式
formula in Portuguese: Fórmula
formula in Russian: Математическая формула
formula in Simple English: Formula
formula in Slovenian: Formula
formula in Serbo-Croatian: Formula
formula in Sundanese: Rumus
formula in Swedish: Formel
formula in Thai: สูตร
formula in Turkish: Formül
formula in Ukrainian: Формула
formula in Yiddish: פארמולע
formula in Chinese: 数学公式
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
MO,
Procrustean law, a priori truth, act, addend, antilogarithm, argument, axiom, base, bill, binomial, blueprint, brocard, bylaw, canon, ceremonial, ceremony, characteristic, code, coefficient, combination, commandment, complement, congruence, constant, convention, cosine, cotangent, criterion, cube, decimal, decree, denominator, derivative, determinant, dictate, dictation, dictum, difference, differential, directions, discriminate, dividend, divisor, duty, e, edict, enactment, equation, exponent, exponential, factor, form, form of worship, formality, formulary, function, general principle,
golden rule, guideline, guiding principle,
holy rite, i, imperative, increment, index, institution, instructions, integral, jus, law, law of nature, legislation, lex, liturgy, matrix, maxim, means, measure, method, minuend, mitzvah, mode of worship, modus
operandi, moral, multiple, multiplier, mystery, norm, norma, numerator, observance, office, order of nature, order of
worship, ordinance,
ordonnance, parameter, pattern, permutation, pi, polynomial, postulate, power, practice, prescribed form,
prescript, prescription, principium, principle, procedure, proposition, quaternion, quotient, radical, radix, receipt, recipe, reciprocal, regulation, remainder, rite, ritual, ritual observance,
rituality, root, rubric, rule, ruling, sacrament, sacramental, secant, self-evident truth,
service, set form,
settled principle, sine,
solemnity, standard, standing order,
statute, submultiple, subtrahend, tangent, technique, tenet, tensor, theorem, truism, truth, universal law, universal
truth, variable,
vector, versine, way, working principle, working
rule