equation for

USAGE SUMMARY

'equation for' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a mathematical equation or formula. For example: "The engineer wrote down the equation for the area of a triangle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Dementia changes the equation, for example.

The New York Times

The equation for determining spin is complex.

The New York Times

Spock: Your equation for achieving transwarp beaming.

The Guardian

Do they have an equation for songwriting?

The Guardian - Music

Together, they could have been a mathematical equation for opposites.

The New York Times - Style

Quickly, I punch in the equation for a standard hyperbola.

The New Yorker

The equation for the husband follows the same pattern.

The Guardian

"Having this technology changes the entire equation for everyone involved".

The New York Times - Tech

The political equation for Mr. Bloomberg is a complicated one.

The New York Times

"You know, that's something that's in the equation for thought.

The New York Times

His equation for success is: "talent times drive times opportunity".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "equation for" to clearly indicate a mathematical or symbolic relationship, ensuring the context makes the relationship understandable to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "equation for" when you actually mean "solution to". The "equation for" describes the relationship itself, while the "solution to" is the answer derived from that relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "equation for" serves as a prepositional phrase that links a concept (often mathematical but not always) to its defining relationship or formula. Ludwig indicates this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "equation for" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that links a concept to its defining relationship. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is indeed correct and usable. While primarily used in news, media, science, and formal business contexts, its register adapts to the source, spanning from formal scientific discourse to informal explanations of everyday relationships. Remember to use "equation for" to indicate a relationship rather than a solution, and consider alternatives like "formula for" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formula for

Replaces "equation" with "formula", emphasizing a specific mathematical rule or relationship.

solution for

Shifts the focus from the equation itself to the outcome or answer it provides.

method for

Replaces "equation" with "method", highlighting a process or technique used to achieve a result.

approach to

Broadens the scope to a general strategy or way of dealing with a problem.

key to

Indicates the essential or crucial element for achieving a particular outcome.

way to

Suggests a path or route to accomplish something, similar to method but more general.

answer to

Focuses on providing a response or resolution to a question or problem.

explanation for

Highlights the reason or cause behind a particular phenomenon or event.

reason for

Directly asks or provides the justification or motive for something.

basis for

Indicates the underlying foundation or rationale upon which something is built.

FAQs

How can I use "equation for" in a sentence?

You can use "equation for" to describe a formula or a set of relationships, such as "The equation for calculating the area of a circle is πr²".

What's a good alternative to "equation for"?

Depending on the context, you could use "formula for", "method for", or "approach to".

Is it correct to say "the equation of" instead of "equation for"?

While "equation of" might be used in certain specific mathematical contexts, "equation for" is generally more versatile and widely understood across various domains.

How does the usage of "equation for" differ in scientific versus general contexts?

In scientific contexts, "equation for" often refers to precise mathematical formulas. In general contexts, it can describe any set of relationships or factors influencing a situation.