# B How to pronounce the "=" sign in the following situations?

1. Sep 22, 2016

### vopros217

My native language is not English. I try to read textbooks in English.
I wonder how should I pronounce "=" in some special sentences: "equals", "is", "was equal", "being", "being equal" or somehow else.

How to pronounce the "=" sign in the following sentences:
1) It moves from x1=5m to x2=9m.
2) A displacement of x=3m was observed.
3) The body is noticed at t=5s when it is at x=8m.
4) How we have 0=3 ?

In addition, I wonder, how should I pronounce the following formula:

$$\frac {a}{a+b+c} = \frac {a}{b+c} + d$$

2. Sep 22, 2016

### Staff: Mentor

For 1 to 3, "equals" is fine.
For 4, I would say "0 is equal to 3" or "0 equals 3" both of which are impossible.
a divided by the quantity a + b + c equals a divided by the quantity b + c, plus d"
I'm not sure if you were asking how you would say the entire equation or just the = parts.
Speaking the equation in English or other language is not as good as writing the equation. It's difficult to convey the difference between $\frac a {b + c +d}$ and $\frac a {b + c} + d$ when they are given verbally.

3. Sep 22, 2016

### Staff: Mentor

I agree with Mark. I would use "equals" in all of those situations.

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