is approximately equal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is approximately equal" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in mathematical or scientific contexts to indicate that two values are close in value but not exactly the same. Example: "The length of the rectangle is approximately equal to 10 meters."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When the near-equilibrium approximation |ΔG|≪RT holds, the flux ratio J +/J − is approximately equal to 1.

Plosone

Evidence suggests that the abortion rate is approximately equal in countries with and without legal abortion.

The Guardian

It is approximately equal to the size of Kanye West's ego.

The New York Times - Arts

Three MIT units is approximately equal to one "semester hour" or credit.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

One balburst is approximately equal to the average force of a sneakered foot stomping from knee-level.

The New York Times

This is approximately equal to the total amount given by all individuals last year in the United States alone.

The Guardian

Lastly, lift produced by each wing of the two-, four-, six-wing configurations is approximately equal.

Journal of Bionic Engineering

The accuracy of using the linear capacitance model and the constant capacitance model is approximately equal.

Journal of Power Sources

The tally of missing households is approximately equal to the country's current surplus of vacant homes.

The New York Times

So making the assumption that the angle is small, we then assume that the sine of the angle is approximately equal to the angle, and the cosine of the angle is approximately equal to 1.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The chromatographer should select the maximum allowable first-dimension retention time, which is approximately equal to the overall analysis time.

Journal of Chromatography A

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is approximately equal" when you want to convey that two values are close enough for practical purposes, but not necessarily mathematically exact.

Common error

Avoid using "is approximately equal" when the values are significantly different. If the difference is substantial, use phrases like "is significantly different from" or "bears little resemblance to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is approximately equal" serves as a relational phrase, linking two quantities or values and indicating their near equivalence. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically sound and widely used. This is consistent with the examples provided, which demonstrate its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

18%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is approximately equal" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote near equivalence between two values or quantities. As shown by Ludwig AI, it is prevalent in scientific, news, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the values being compared are indeed close enough for the purpose at hand, and consider alternatives like "is roughly equivalent" or "is nearly identical" for nuances in precision. Overall, "is approximately equal" provides a clear and concise way to communicate estimations and proportional relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is roughly equivalent

This suggests a slightly less precise comparison than "approximately equal".

approximates to

This uses a verb form emphasizing the act of approximating.

is nearly identical

This implies a very small degree of difference between the two things being compared.

is virtually equal

Emphasizes that the difference is so small as to be negligible in practice.

is almost the same as

This uses simpler language, suitable for less formal contexts.

is in the neighborhood of

This idiom suggests an estimation rather than a precise approximation.

is close to

This is a more general way of indicating proximity in value or quantity.

is on par with

This suggests that two things are at the same level or standard.

is comparable to

Suggests that the two values are similar enough to be worth comparing.

is of the same order of magnitude as

Implies similarity in scale or size, often used in scientific contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "is approximately equal" in a sentence?

You can use "is approximately equal" to show that two values are nearly the same, such as, "The calculated result "is approximately equal" to the experimental value".

What are some alternatives to "is approximately equal"?

Alternatives include "is roughly equivalent", "is nearly identical", or "is almost the same as", depending on the desired level of precision.

When is it appropriate to use "is approximately equal" versus "is equal"?

"Is approximately equal" should be used when the values are close but not exactly the same. "Is equal" should only be used when the values are mathematically identical.

How precise is "is approximately equal"?

The precision of "is approximately equal" depends on the context. It implies that the difference is small enough to be negligible for the purpose at hand, but doesn't specify the exact margin of error.