What is Formulas: Definition and 542 Discussions

In science, a formula is a concise way of expressing information symbolically, as in a mathematical formula or a chemical formula. The informal use of the term formula in science refers to the general construct of a relationship between given quantities.
The plural of formula can be either formulas (from the most common English plural noun form) or, under the influence of scientific Latin, formulae (from the original Latin).In mathematics, a formula generally refers to an identity which equates one mathematical expression to another, with the most important ones being mathematical theorems. Syntactically, a formula(often referred to as a well-formed formula) is an entity which is constructed using the symbols and formation rules of a given logical language. For example, determining the volume of a sphere requires a significant amount of integral calculus or its geometrical analogue, the method of exhaustion. However, having done this once in terms of some parameter (the radius for example), mathematicians have produced a formula to describe the volume of a sphere in terms of its radius:




V
=


4
3


π

r

3




{\displaystyle V={\frac {4}{3}}\pi r^{3}}
.Having obtained this result, the volume of any sphere can be computed as long as its radius is known. Here, notice that the volume V and the radius r are expressed as single letters instead of words or phrases. This convention, while less important in a relatively simple formula, means that mathematicians can more quickly manipulate formulas which are larger and more complex. Mathematical formulas are often algebraic, analytical or in closed form.In modern chemistry, a chemical formula is a way of expressing information about the proportions of atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound, using a single line of chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes other symbols, such as parentheses, brackets, and plus (+) and minus (−) signs. For example, H2O is the chemical formula for water, specifying that each molecule consists of two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom. Similarly, O−3 denotes an ozone molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms and a net negative charge.
In a general context, formulas are a manifestation of mathematical model to real world phenomena, and as such can be used to provide solution (or approximated solution) to real world problems, with some being more general than others. For example, the formula

F = mais an expression of Newton's second law, and is applicable to a wide range of physical situations. Other formulas, such as the use of the equation of a sine curve to model the movement of the tides in a bay, may be created to solve a particular problem. In all cases, however, formulas form the basis for calculations.
Expressions are distinct from formulas in that they cannot contain an equals sign (=). Expressions can be liken to phrases the same way formulas can be liken to grammatical sentences.

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  1. Mustave Ashab Behon

    Other Should I memorize the source of formulas or just understand it?

    I always try to understand the source of a formula but later i cant remember it well, most of the time i completely forgets it. Should i memorize the sources of formulas also or just understand it? Is it necessary to make myself remember the sources always? I saw my friends can remember all the...
  2. H

    Magnetic levitation train formulas used

    Hi I'm designing a magnetic levitation model train just like this The only difference may be to use disk magnets for tracks instead of strip type magnets (I'm considering both options at this stage before deciding finally). The engineering part of design is easy, however, I want to know and...
  3. K

    General Formulas for Nitrogen Dioxide

    Nitrogen Dioxide has 17 valence electrons, therefore it has a single bond between one oxygen and a double bond between the other, creating a general formula of AX2, however I do not understand how to incorporate the lone electron on nitrogen into the general formula. Does adding another...
  4. JohnPython

    Truncated Octahedron formulas -- How to publish an article?

    TL;DR Summary: Suggestions for the publication of an article Hello everyone, I was reviewing and I can't find much content on truncated octahedron formulas, can it be useful to publish an article in a magazine on the subject?. Thank you.
  5. L

    Combination of 2 formulas for a graph

    i need to combine the two to make a new 3rd one I think the t element is the X axis scale ? not quite sure how to do this, suggestions please ?
  6. C

    Solving Distance Traveled Using Formulas vs. Graphs

    So basically I wonder why the distance traveled by a body in the 5th second gives different results when calculated by the formula for accelerating body(##d=V_0\times t + \frac{1}{2}\times at^{2}##) and when calculated using a graph(formula for the surface of the triangle). Here is the graph of...
  7. A

    Question about two elastic collision formulas

    Equation 1 is equating the kinetic energies of the objects before and after the elastic collision. Equation 2 is equating the momentums of the objects after the elastic collision. They can be used interchangeably as long as the collision is elastic. Am I right in my conclusion?
  8. S

    Trying to reconcile function composition problems with sets & formulas

    I know how to solve each of those problems. For the set one, I look at the output of the S and try to match it with the input of T and then take the pair (input_of_S, output_of_T), and I do that for each pair. As for the formula one, I just plug in x = g(y). My confusion lies in trying to...
  9. S

    LaTeX Colors inside formulas imported from MathType

    I would like to include colors in letters or numbers inside formulas just like I did here with text. By the way, I use the software MathType to build my formulas and used to be able to paste the equations easily on PhysicsForums, but can't do it lately. Do you know by chance the Copy-and-Paste...
  10. huc369

    B Can anyone tell me some formulas for acceleration?

    我是一名高中生,对加速度的一些计算感到困惑,请与我分享一些信息 (translation by the Mentors via Google Translate): "I am a high school student and confused about some calculations of acceleration please share some information with me"
  11. T

    I Help with Sunrise & Sunset formulas please

    I am looking for a formula that will give an approximate sunrise and sunset but I only have 3 bits of information to work with: The current day of the year, longitude and latitude. I'm trying to incorporate rough SR and SS into a code for a watchface. The program does have a stock SR and SS but...
  12. C

    Velocity Formulas for Projectile Motion

    Hi, so I solved this using energy. I also tried solving this using kinematic equations. The issue I am running into s for calculating the Vy of the problem. I am able to find the time it takes the rock to fall using d=(1/2)gt^2. Then, I considered two different ways of going about finding the...
  13. A

    Alkanes formulas compilation

    Alkanes list Can the Alkanes list be further compiled after decane with formulas ? Is it advisable to mix Alkanes ? Examples : Propane + Nonane = ? Butane + Pentane = ? Decane + Methane = ? Propane + Hexane + Decane = ?
  14. V

    Stargazing Understanding the Formula for Sunrise and Sunset Calculation

    Hi, I'm developing a C++ computer library with the formulas in the book "Practical Astronomy with your Calculator or Spreadsheet, 4th edition" but I have a problem with the formula 49, "Sunrise and sunset": I don't get the same results than in the book. I've been searching to find online...
  15. kyphysics

    Can "Secret" Food Recipe Formulas Not Be Reverse Engineered?

    You always hear about how famous big food companies have recipes locked away in vaults. They never want to give away the secret sauce so competitors can copy them. However, with all we can do with modern technology, why can't we send a Chick-Fil-A sandwich over the a lab and have them...
  16. B

    I Why aren't Gravitational waves factored in to inflation formulas?

    It seems to me that gravitational waves are ignored when inflationary physics are described. I'm not very well read, and honestly do not know so much about most of the physics going on with inflation. Still, wave mechanics matter, harmonics matter, and it just seems intuitive to me that in order...
  17. W

    B Formulas for the alternating current and voltage

    Hi,I have found in my textbook the formulas for both current and voltage and I have no idea if they are right or wrong. Can someone help me with these formulas? v=v0cos(wt) i=i0cos(wt) Is this correct? In google when I search for the answers I get something else: v=v0sin(wt) i=i0sin(wt)
  18. Alex Schaller

    B Different formulas for electric flux

    I noticed that in some textbooks (Physics - Tipler) the electric flux formula is different than in other textbooks (Engineering Electromagnetics -W. Hayt) Which one should we use?
  19. J

    Chemistry Expanding and Naming of Abbreviated Chemical Formulas

    I noted that the number of carbons in the main chain is 7 (5 carcons and the outer two are attached to an outside 'CH3' grouping .. and the bonds are all single so we have a Heptane. We have the main chain diagram structure as follows .. -C-C-C-C-C-C-C- .. If we then number these carbons...
  20. L

    Material index formulas for optical clarity and Ashby charts

    Hello:) i need some help trying to find some formulas that i can retrive the material index from at the end of simplification to use with an ashby chart to select materials. here is an example of deflection equation from a sphere used for a spherical cap and what material index we used to find...
  21. L

    Elastic collision formulas -- Derivation blunder

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elastic_collision μα+mβ=μx+my, μα^2+mβ^2=μx^2+my^2 I want x in relation of all variables except y, therefore I need to replace-eliminate y: μα+mβ=μx+my =>y=(μα+mβ-μx)/m μα^2+mβ^2=μx^2+my^2=>y=((μα^2+mβ^2-μx^2)/m)^0.5 and it is eliminated if I equate these two parts...
  22. P

    When do formulas for adiabatic processes apply?

    In this problem, the method used to solve the question is to equate pdV with change in internal energy. This implies an adiabatic process as Q = 0? (not sure about this claim) However, why is it not correct to simply apply the PV^ϒ = constant formula? Thank you.
  23. P

    Understanding basic statistical mechanics formulas

    Firstly, I would like to check my understanding of the first formula: Using velocity distribution = f(v), speed distribution = fs(v): fs(v) = f(vx)f(vy)f(vz)dxdydz, since dxdydz = 4pi*v^2*dv, fs(v) = 4piv^2f(v) The second formula is the confusing one: What does it mean? What is the...
  24. T

    Numerical Differentiation: Comparing Central & Other Formulas

    Hello there, I have found a different central differentiation formula for a first derivate from what I am used to seeing and I was wondering if they were the same one. I am struggling to find the Numerical Differentiation formulas (forward, backward and central) in scholarly articles and I have...
  25. greg_rack

    Euclidean geometry: main theorems, formulas and concepts

    Hi guys, Hopefully, no geometry-enthusiasts are going to read these next few lines, but if that's the case, be lenient :) I have always hated high-school geometry, those basic boring theorems about triangles, polygons, circles, and so on, and I have always "skipped" such classes, studying...
  26. LCSphysicist

    Do you know a mnemonic to remember Prosthaphaeresis formulas?

    Do you have a mnemoic to renember this four formulas?: It is pretty easy to derive, but a little boring do the derivation all the time.
  27. AN630078

    Rearranging gravitational and centripetal equations to derive formulas

    1. Newton's Second Law states F=ma and the formula for centripetal acceleration is v^2/r Therefore, F= mv^2/r Would this be complete, I just feel that I should need to do something further but I am not sure what? 2.F=mv^2/r Gravitational force = GMm/r^2 Gravity is the cause of centripetal...
  28. rxh140630

    Formulas for computing composite function

    h(x) = 0 for x ≤ 0 h(x) = x^2 for x>0 But my book says h(x) = 0 for x<0 h(x) = x^2 for x≥0 Can my solution (the first one) work as well? Because the actual function value at x = 0 is zero. I feel like my solution is more elegant.
  29. N

    What are these formulas? (WX=...cm^3 and Jx=....cm^4)

    Hello .I need help about hr meaning of Wx & Jx? What does these symbol mean?
  30. marialovesphysics

    Gravitational potential energy formulas

    m.g.h = (GMm)/r how can we prove that mgh is potential energy and both equal to that?
  31. F

    What units are used in spin factor and coefficient of lift formulas?

    I am trying to add the magnus effect to a golf simulator program but am getting stuck on the coefficient of lift. What are the units I should be using in these calculations? The rest of my program I use SI units. But I seam to get weird results when using them with these equations. Spin factor...
  32. E

    Proving time constant formulas of a capacitor using Kirchoff's laws

    the attached files are a diagram of the circuit. also I believe I figured out how to proof equation (7) but I'm lost on how to proof (8)
  33. L

    Basic molarity and dilution formulas

    ok, for the life of me i can not remember how to do the BASIC math for my issue. I mean, i can do calc but i have forgotten basic math haha. here is my question. If i have 91% grain alcohol, how do i figure out how much water to add to it to drop the percentage to 70%. Dimensional analysis is...
  34. P

    Chemistry Structural formulas & optical activity

    How do I determine which group is dash (into the page) and which is wedge (out of page)? Won't that literally change which isomer it is? How to determine optical activity then? (I believe that in order for something to be optically active it has to be an enantiomer--a non-superimposable mirror...
  35. bagasme

    B Derivation of Wheel Relationship Formulas

    Hello, Here in this thread I will derive formulas for relation between two wheels, either teethed (e.g. gears) or non-teethed. In wheel relationship, we have three cases: Two wheels at the same axle Two wheels intersected in parallel (meshed) Two wheels connected by a belt We will examine...
  36. F

    Comp Sci Write the predicate formulas for the given predicates

    Attempts for each item: a) Since m=n if and only if m \leq n and n \leq m: Equal(m,n) = \left( \neg Greater(m,n) \right) \wedge \left( \neg Greater(n,m) \right)b) Any natural number n multiplied by 1 is equal to n, so:One(n) = \forall k \left(M(k,n,k)\right)c) What I've attempted here is to...
  37. T

    I Functional equations as global formulas

    In page 9 it says: "It is interesting to note that Riemann does not speak of the “analytic continuation” of the function beyond the halfplane Re s > 1, but speaks rather of finding a formula for it which “remains valid for all s.” [...]. The view of analytic continuation in terms of chains of...
  38. bagasme

    B Aren't There Any Formulas for Prime Numbers?

    Hello all, We know that following formulas failed to produced all prime numbers for any given whole number ##n##: ##f(n) = n^2 - n - 41##, failed for ##n = 41~(f = 1681)## ##g(n) = 2^(2^n) + 1##, failed for ##n = 5~(g = 4,294,967,297)## ##m(n) = 2^n - 1##, failed for ##n = 67~(m =...
  39. W

    I How to visualize the maths behind a formula?

    I just finished my freshman year in computer engineering at my college, and after some physics and materials science classes I noticed a pattern. Everybody—at least in my class, I don't about the rest of the world—is just memorizing formulas, myself included. I'm really trying to not just...
  40. Vital

    I Least squares line - understanding formulas

    Hello. I have listened to a great lecture, which gave helpful intuitive insight into correlation and regression (basic stuff). But there are formulas, which I cannot grasp intuitively and don't know their origin. To remember them I would like to understand what's happening in each part of the...
  41. E

    A Time Dilation in Gravitational Fields: Are Equivalent Formulas?

    I was trying to understand the topic of time dilation in a gravitational field, and I found these two formulas: G = constant grav. m = mass of the planet or star under consideration g = 9.81m / s ^ 2 H = height at which the second clock is located with respect to the first which is on the...
  42. A

    Need formulas for the dis/charge of batteries

    Been asked to write a four page introduction to an Extended Experimental Investigation. The topic is investigating the discharge rate of batteries as a function of temperature. Need some help [Thread moved to the schoolwork forums by the Mentors]
  43. J

    Equating two formulas for root-mean-square velocity

    (a) My question : Are all the formulas correct? If so I can write ##v_{rms}## in form (2) and compare that result with the other velocities to get the answer (rms > average > most probable)
  44. R

    Find formulas for ##a_n## for hexagonal arrangements

    ##a_n = a_{n-1} + 6(n-1)## ##=a_{n-2} + 6(n-1) + 6(n-2)## ##=a_{n-3} + 6(n-1) + 6(n-2) + 6(n-3)## ##\vdots## ##=1 + 6 [(n-1) + (n-2) + (n-3) + \cdots + 1]## ##= 1 + 3n(n-1)## I'm not sure how to get to the last line from the second to the last line. Please...
  45. Calculuser

    I Well-formed Formulas Set in Formal Theory

    There is a statement on page 26 in Elliott Mendelson's book of "Introduction to Mathematical Logic" as shown: What I got from the statement above, which is obvious, I guess, is that in the sequence of \mathcal{B}_1,\mathcal{B}_2,...\mathcal{B}_k there are "SOME" well-formed formulas (wfs)...
  46. E

    MHB Proving Addition/Subtraction Formulas - Tan(x-y)+Tan(y-z)+Tan(z-x)

    tan(x-y)+tan(y-z)+tan(z-x)=tan(x-y)tan(y-z)tan(z-x) I have redone this problem two or three times and all the steps just make my head spin. I've tried looking up tutorials online but they introduce things into the problem that we haven't been taught yet and that just confuses me more. Help!
  47. J

    Formulas for Rotation and Translation

    Given the coordinates ##P = (3,4)## , find the coordinates of ##P"(x',y')## when the origin is shifted to (1, –2), and the axes are rotated by 90° in the clockwise direction. I attempted to solve this problem using the following formulas : ##x = X + h## and ##y = Y + k## for translation of the...
  48. L

    Help with formulas for calculating pressure

    Hi! This is my first post on here. I need to purchase an air cylinder, most likely hydraulic. The cylinder will have a forming die attached on the end and will be used to crimp two small stainless steel tubes together. The crimp will occur at an offset of .004 inches from each end of the tubes...
  49. R

    Finding formulas for the variable "a" and summations

    Homework Statement Can someone explain how to get from step 5 to step 6. I'm not seeing the link. Thanks in advance! Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
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