Formula Definition and 1000 Threads

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. A

    I Light Deflection Formula: Impact Parameter & Angle Shift

    I know the basics of GR, but I'm far from an expert. I'm interested in the general formula for the angle shift experienced by a light ray in presence of a gravitational field. Light bending is topic covered in many books, of course, however the usual treatments would just not do for my purposes...
  2. N

    MHB Dividing Line Segments into Four Equal Parts using Midpoint Formula

    55. Use the Midpoint Formula three times to find the three points that divide the line segment joining (x_1, y_1) and (x_2, y_2) into four equal parts. 56. Use the result of Exercise 55 to find the points that divide each line segment joining the given points into four equal parts. (a) (x_1...
  3. Haorong Wu

    How Can I Prove the Zassenhaus-Like Formula?

    I find in Wikipedia that the equation is very like the Zassenhaus formula $$e^{t(X+Y)}=e^{tX}e^{tY}e^{-\frac {t^2} 2 [X,Y]} e^{\frac {t^3} 6 (2[Y,[X,Y]]+[X,[X,Y]])}\dots .$$ But I still have no clues. I try to prove it as the prove of Glauber formula. I start with letting...
  4. J

    I Weird Semidirect Product Formula

    My book gives this formula for the semidirect product for groups ##Z_p## and ## Z_q## for primes p<q and p divides (q-1). ##(a,b)*(x,y)=(a+_q c^bx,b+_py)## There is also an explanation of what c is but very little else. It doesn't even explain what operation adjacency represents, eq...
  5. Goldhelmeth

    Formula for ionization potential reduction

    Hello, Firstly I am not sure of understanding the problem, I believe that this reduction is related to a high density plasma where the free electrons are very close to the ions and so the ions cannot be considered as separate bodies... I also believe it affects the ground energy state of...
  6. N

    MHB How to Use the Midpoint Formula to Find the Other Endpoint of a Line Segment?

    53. A line segment has (x_1, y_1) as one endpoint and (x_m, y_m) as its midpoint. Find the other endpoint (x_2, y_2) of the line segment in terms of x_1, y_1, x_m, and y_m. 54. Use the result of Exercise 53 to find the endpoint (x_2, y_2) of each line segment with the given endpoint (x_1, y_1)...
  7. P

    Velocity addition formula in X and Y axes (Relativity)

    The problem: Visualising the problem (My question is with regards to this): Why is the above set-up correct? In the above diagram, S would be moving at velocity -v relative to S', instead of v. Is this because the question says "speed v", and so we can set the direction as such? Why would the...
  8. P

    A Ground Penetrating Radar formula

    I am interested in the physics of ground penetrating radar. 1) Does anyone know where I can find a derivation of the formula in the attached jpg for the energy reflected? K=the dialectic constant. 2) An intuitive explanation of why the dialectic constant is important in determining the energy...
  9. D

    Poisson's Formula for the half space

    Hi all, thanks in advance for any constructive feedback. :bow: Definition: If ##x\in R^n\backslash \{0\}## then the map ##\Lambda## takes the point ##x## into ##\bar{x}\in R^n\backslash R^+_3## given by ##\bar{x}=\{x_1,x_2,-x_3\}## We take the reflected point ##\bar{x}## and the fundamental...
  10. guyvsdcsniper

    Geosynchronous Satellites: Distance & Formula Analysis

    My work is attached. I did get the answer right using the formula V=√(G*me/r). Im just confused as to why I can't use V=2pi*r/T to also get the right answer? With this equation I would assume T=86400s. I was able to use both equations to get the correct answer for a problem relating to...
  11. T

    B Is there a formula to obtain the mass of a proton from c?

    Just as E= hc/λ is anyone aware of a mathematical formula to obtain the mass of a proton from C ?
  12. C

    I Optimizing Defective Rates with Bayes' Formula

    Hello! I'm sitting with a problem that is causing me some troubles.. First part is using Bayes formula. We have 3 companies that produce some apparatus. Each company has some defective percentage. Company Produced (%) Defective (%) A 45 3 B 25 6 C 30 5 1) Suppose we pick up a...
  13. L

    I 1D wavepacket scattering simulation, momentum distribution formula

    Hello everybody at the forum I'm from Ukraine, I have Chemistry degree, and last year I began to self studying Quantum Mechanics. I'm reading this article: R. Garcia, A. Zozulya, and J. Stickney, “MATLAB codes for teaching quantum physics: Part 1,” [Online]. Available...
  14. H

    The symbol t in the capacitor discharge formula q= (q0e)^(–t/RC)

    If none of the above is correct, what is a good definition of the symbol t (time)?
  15. Armine

    Proof of a formula with two geometric random variables

    The image above is the problem and the image below is the solution I have tried but failed.
  16. K

    MHB How Can One Demonstrate the Ratio Between the Hypotenuses of Two Triangles?

    Hello, everybody: I am a philologist who is fond of mathematics, but who unfortunately has just an elementary high school knowledge of them. I am translating La leçon de Platon, by Dom Néroman (La Bégude de Mazenc, Arma Artis, 2002), which deals with music theory and mathematics in the works of...
  17. K

    Engineering Mobility of the Mechanism, Chebychev–Grüblerv Formula

    For question J) I've got 9 number of links, 10 number of joints and 1 higher pair ( assuming that there is a slippage), substituting these values in the Chebychev–Grübler's formula gives me the mobility of 1. For question H) I've got 7 number of links, 9 number of joints substituting these...
  18. M

    MHB What Are the Solutions to the System of Inequalities for Target Heart Rate?

    One formula for a person’s maximum heart rate is 220 − x, where x is the person’s age in years for 20 ≤ x ≤ 70. The American Heart Association recommends that when a person exercises, the person should strive for a heart rate that is at least 50% of the maximum and at most 85% of the maximum...
  19. B

    Formula for the energy of elastic deformation

    In every book I checked, the energy (per unit mass) of elastic deformation is derived as follows: ## \int \sigma_1 d \epsilon_1 = \frac{\sigma_1 \epsilon_1}{2} ## and then, authors (e.g. Timoshenko & Goodier) sum up such terms and substitute ##\epsilon ## from generalised Hooke's law i.e. ##...
  20. WhiteWolf98

    Using Euler's Formula to write a fraction in another form

    Greetings. I'm having a bit of difficulty with getting from the first to the second equation. I know some basic identities, but it all just feels like a mess. My approach was just going to be to write whatever I could, but some of the terms are confusing me...
  21. M

    MHB Calculating Distance for Woman & Dog Walking Home

    Hey! :giggle: A woman is walking home with distance $d$ and speed $v$. The dog is happy and runs at speed $\frac{3v }{ 2}$ always between woman and house back and forth. (i) At what distances $(d_n)_{n\geq 1}$ do women and dogs meet? (ii) Determine the total path length of the dog with the...
  22. L

    Thermodynamics: gas expansion formula or approximation error?

    FIRST TYPE: REVERSIBLE PROCESS At the temperature of 127 ° C, 1 L of CO2 is reversibly compressed from the pressure of 380 mmHg to that of 1 atm. Calculate the heat and labor exchanged assuming the gas is ideal. Q = L = - 34.95 J CONDUCT 380 mmHg = 0.5 atm L = P1 * V1 * ln (P1 / P2) = 0.5 * 1...
  23. T

    Can someone help me to identify the formula on the attached image?

    I have to do a MATLAB assignment but when it comes to the report (the theory) I am having quite a lot of problems. My tutor used this formula that I am going to attach: However, I don't know if that equation is the Laplace equation, the 2D Heat Diffusion equation, or what exactly that is as I...
  24. duchuy

    What is the formula for determining small angles in spherical diopters?

    Hi, I don't understand how the professor managed to determine the values of alpha, alpha' and omega. What is the formula tha´t is applied to determine alpha = SP / AS and so on... knowing that alpha is a really small angle. Cheers
  25. I

    Chemistry Finding the molecular formula of a hydrocarbon

    Moles are proportional to volume. There is 1000 cm3 of gas (carbon dioxide gas plus water vapour) after the reaction, and 200 cm3 of water vapour after the carbon dioxide has been absorbed. Therefore, there is 800 cm3 of carbon dioxide. Since the stoichiometric ratio of carbon dioxide to the...
  26. M

    MHB Approximation of the integral using Gauss-Legendre quadrature formula

    Hey! :giggle: Let $\displaystyle{I_n(f)=\sum_{i=0}^na_if(x_i)}$ be a quadrature formula for the approximate calculation of the integral $I(f)=\int_a^bf(x)\, dx$. Show that a polynomial $p$ of degree $2n+2$ exists such that $I_n(p)\neq I(p)$. Calculate the approximation of the integral...
  27. sergiokapone

    I Rodrigues' rotation formula from SO(3) comutator properties

    Is any way to get Rodrigues' rotation formula from matrix exponential \begin{equation} e^{i\phi (\star\vec{n}) } = e^{i\phi (\vec{n}\cdot\hat{\vec{S}}) } = \hat{I} + (\star\vec{n})\sin\phi + (\star\vec{n})^2( 1 - \cos\phi ). \end{equation} using SO(3) groups comutators properties ONLY...
  28. Y

    Can someone tell me which formula to use here? (time to boil water)

    An amount of water at a temperature of 20 °C is passed through a water boiler in 1.5 min to brought to boiling point. The kettle is broken and does not jump off. The time between the moment when the water reaches boiling point and the moment when all the water is evaporated, is equal to: a) 7,5...
  29. Y

    Can someone please clarify this formula? (hydrostatic pressure)

    Is in the bottom of a liquid the pressure equal to p 0 + ρ.g.h or only ρ.g.h? please can someone tell me this correctly?
  30. U

    Circular antenna array formula

    At page 20 of this pdf the two formulas that characterize the behavior of a linear and a circular antenna array are compared. The reason why I write this post is: I don't understand why the second formula is true. Below I show why I am not convinced. In general, given a configuration of sources...
  31. H

    MHB Efficiency of Sieve vs. Derivative Method for Primality Testing

    We can determinate if one number is prime with the modulo operation. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346647223_Primality_Test_Formula
  32. TheGreatDeadOne

    I Using recurrence formula to solve Legendre polynomial integral

    I am trying to prove the following expression below: $$ \int _{0}^{1}p_{l}(x)dx=\frac{p_{l-1}(0)}{l+1} \quad \text{for }l \geq 1 $$ The first thing I did was use the following relation: $$lp_l(x)+p'_{l-1}-xp_l(x)=0$$ Substituting in integral I get: $$\frac{1}{l}\left[ \int_0^1 xp'_l(x)dx...
  33. john baez

    I No, I didn't notice. Can you show me?

    A while ago I decided to figure out how to prove one of Ramanujan’s formulas. I feel this is the sort of thing every mathematician should try at least once. I picked the easiest one I could find: Hardy called it one of the “least impressive”. Still, it was pretty interesting: it turned out...
  34. The Bill

    Geometry General Ellipsoid Area Formula: Detailed Explanation

    I'm looking for a source that fully derives the complete formula for the surface area of a general (triaxial) ellipsoid. I'd prefer a source that has more than just a full derivation, but also has a fair amount of prose discussion on this topic. Some historical context would be nice, as well...
  35. E

    B How did Cavalieri get his formula for the area underneath a parabola?

    I know he had this ratio: But how did he get this: ?
  36. S

    B Question about venturimeter formula

    The level of this learning material is high - school level From my note, there are two equations that can be used related to venturimeter: 1. ##P+\rho gh + \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2 = \text{constant}## 2. ##P_1 + \frac{1}{2} \rho {v_1}^2 = P_2 + \frac{1}{2} \rho {v_2}^2## I want to ask about...
  37. S

    Mathematica Create real function from symbolic sum formula

    In this code, I define a function of x as the sum of the first x integers. In[7]:= fnSum[x_] := Sum[k, {k, 1, x}] In[8]:= fnSum[x] Out[8]= 1/2 x (1 + x) In[9]:= fnSum[3.5] Out[9]= 6 I would like now to take the symbolic formula underlying fnSum, and use it with real arguments. How can I...
  38. Hamiltonian

    Chemistry Calculating the empirical formula from a percentage composition

    Let the empirical formula be ##Na_x S_y O_z## then we can concude $$\frac {29.11}{100} = \frac{xM_{Na}}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$ $$\frac {40.51}{100} = \frac{yM_S}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$ $$\frac {30.38}{100} = \frac{zM_O}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$ where ##M_{Na} = 23, M_S = 32,M_O = 16##...
  39. E

    Is this formula for a ball rolling down a ramp incorrect?

    I've got to do an experiment that essentially involves rolling a ball bearing down a (frictional) ramp and measuring its acceleration. It's quoted in the manual that the linear acceleration of a ball bearing rolling down a ramp at angle ##\theta## is ##a = \frac{5}{9} g \sin{\theta}##. When I...
  40. WMDhamnekar

    MHB Coulomb's Constant in electron energy formula.

    Hi, If we multiply $En=-\frac{2\pi^2me^4Z^2}{ n^2h^2} $by $\frac{1}{(4\pi\epsilon_0)^2},$ it is the formula of electron energy in nth Bohr’s orbit. Why we should multiply it by $\frac{1}{ (4\pi\epsilon_0)^2}$ a Coulomb's constant in electrostatic force? Where m=mass of electron, e= charge...
  41. Haorong Wu

    I Where does this formula for absorption cross section come from?

    My professor gave us a formula for absorption cross section, but he said he did not remember where he found it. The formula is given by $$\sigma_a =\frac {1} {| \mathbf E_i|^2} \int_V k \epsilon^{''}_r | \mathbf {E} |^2 dV = k \epsilon^{''}_r |\frac 3 {\epsilon_r +2}|^2 V.$$ Where does...
  42. MJNZ1

    What is the correct formula I should use? (measuring g using a swinging mass)

    Hi, This is my first post, I hope I have done it right. The top mass is represented as m and the weight hanger M.The image below is my attempt with the first formula 2. I have done it in grams because when I did it in kg's it was not anywhere near 9.81ms^-2...I know it is wrong :) g exp. =...
  43. J

    Derivation of 3pt forward formula

    f(x+2h) = f(x) + 2hf’(x) + .5(2h)^2f”(x) f(x+h) = f(x) + hf’(x) + .5h^2f”(x) f(x+2h) - f(x+h)? f(x+2h) - 2f(x+h)?
  44. rxh140630

    Finding a formula for the following summation

    ive used google https://www.google.com/search?q=n%5E2+%2B+(n-2)%5E2+%2B+..&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS890US890&oq=n&aqs=chrome.1.69i59l3j69i57j0j69i61j69i60l2.4719j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 and I was surprised that there was no relevant formula found How do I get/even begin to get the formula for...
  45. EchoRush

    Help with deriving the formula for kinetic energy (using calculus)

    Hello, I am learning how to use calculus to derive the formula for kinetic energy now, I understandthe majority of the steps in how to do this, however, there is one step where I get totally lost, I will post a picture of the steps and I will circle the part where I get lost. If you see the...
  46. P

    Interpreting a thermodynamics formula using a picture

    I notice that ##pv=t## looks like the ideal gas law but with ##T## in units of energy. I know that ##pV = \text{constant}## means that the pressure of a gas decreases as you expand it (Boyle-Mariotte's law), explaining for instance how we breathe. I guess I could put everything in words even...
  47. S

    Formula for maximum interference for reflected light (thin - film)

    The light comes from glass to boundary of glass and soap film, then there will be light which is reflected and transmitted. The reflected light has no phase shift and the transmitted light will hit the boundary of soap film and vacuum and the reflected light from this boundary will also has no...
  48. M

    How is this formula for the surface derived?

    The pages shown in the pictures are from an engineering book. I am not sure how the thickness of sphere plays a role in the inner surface of the sphere. I know that the surface area of sphere is ##4 \pi r^2 ## . Picture 2 shows how that formula plays a role in understanding the stress...
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