What does equation mean in the terms of math?

Answer 1

In its simplest of terms, the word equation means:

To consider as equal.

In other words, whatever is on one side of the equal sign (=) is to be considered the same total value as what has been placed on the other side of the sign.

To really understand this, virtually all math can be considered as an equation.

Example:

2 + 2 = ?

In this example, "2 + 2" is to be considered equal to the symbol "?" and you may be asked to replace the "?" with something of equal value.

2 + 2 = 4

In practical application simple problems like 2+2 are simply not presented as equations (they should be, it would make all math easier to understand if these terms were taught sooner).

When presented with an equation that must be solved, the idea is that you should assume both sides of the = sign are of the same total value and you must solve for whatever symbol (or symbols) are asked.

In the equation 2 + 2 = X, what is X? X is 4 because the term equation defines for you that both sides of the = sign have the same total value.