Equation

German Meaning

Gleichung

Ausgleich

English Meaning

  1. The act or process of equating or of being equated.
  2. The state of being equal.
  3. Mathematics A statement asserting the equality of two expressions, usually written as a linear array of symbols that are separated into left and right sides and joined by an equal sign.
  4. Chemistry A representation of a chemical reaction, usually written as a linear array in which the symbols and quantities of the reactants are separated from those of the products by an equal sign, an arrow, or a set of opposing arrows.
  5. A complex of variable elements or factors: "The world was full of equations . . . there must be an answer for everything, if only you knew how to set forth the questions” ( Anne Tyler).