equation

American  

[ih-kwey-zhuhn, -shuhn] / ɪˈkweɪ ʒən, -ʃən /

noun

1. the act of equating or making equal; equalization.

   the symbolic equation of darkness with death.

2. equally balanced state; equilibrium.

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

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

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equation British  

/ ɪˈkweɪʒən, -ʃən /

noun

1. 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)

2. the act of regarding as equal; equating

3. the act of making equal or balanced; equalization

4. a situation, esp one regarded as having a number of conflicting elements

   what you want doesn't come into the equation

5. the state of being equal, equivalent, or equally balanced

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

7. See chemical equation

8. astronomy See personal equation

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equation Scientific  

/ ĭ-kwā′zhən /

1. 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.

2. 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 + H ₂ SO ₄ = CaSO ₄ + 2H ₂ O, is an equation.

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Other Word Forms

• equational adjective
• equationally adverb
• nonequation noun

Etymology

Origin of equation

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

Example Sentences

Still, the equation is not the same for every miner, as the cost of producing bitcoin differs widely across operators.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

But for some older professionals, money is only part of the equation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Producing those chips, however, won’t be easy, which is where Intel enters the equation.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

It's true that an element of luck can enter into the equation, but the same would inevitably be true whatever the rules were.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

The formula for finding the roots of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is… The + sign gives us one root, while the – sign gives us the other.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife