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FORMULA
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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).
Formulae in mathematics
In mathematics, formulae form a crucial end result of many calculations. For example the problem of determining the volume of a sphere is one that requires a sigificant 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:
 (the π 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 fairly meaningless 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.
Formulae 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 of the form
= 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).
Formula in manufacturing
In manufacturing, a [Bill_of_material] is sometimes referred to as a formula.
See also
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