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equation

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equation

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Equation  \E*qua"tion\,  n.  [L.  aequatio  an  equalizing:  cf  F. 
  ['e]quation  equation.  See  {Equate}.] 
  1.  A  making  equal;  equal  division;  equality;  equilibrium. 
 
  Again  the  golden  day  resumed  its  right  And  ruled  in 
  just  equation  with  the  night.  --Rowe. 
 
  2.  (Math.)  An  expression  of  the  condition  of  equality  between 
  two  algebraic  quantities  or  sets  of  quantities,  the  sign  = 
  being  placed  between  them  as  a  binomial  equation;  a 
  quadratic  equation;  an  algebraic  equation;  a 
  transcendental  equation;  an  exponential  equation;  a 
  logarithmic  equation;  a  differential  equation,  etc 
 
  3.  (Astron.)  A  quantity  to  be  applied  in  computing  the  mean 
  place  or  other  element  of  a  celestial  body;  that  is  any 
  one  of  the  several  quantities  to  be  added  to  or  taken 
  from  its  position  as  calculated  on  the  hypothesis  of  a 
  mean  uniform  motion,  in  order  to  find  its  true  position  as 
  resulting  from  its  actual  and  unequal  motion. 
 
  {Absolute  equation}.  See  under  {Absolute}. 
 
  {Equation  box},  or  {Equational  box},  a  system  of  differential 
  gearing  used  in  spinning  machines  for  regulating  the  twist 
  of  the  yarn.  It  resembles  gearing  used  in  equation  clocks 
  for  showing  apparent  time. 
 
  {Equation  of  the  center}  (Astron.),  the  difference  between 
  the  place  of  a  planet  as  supposed  to  move  uniformly  in  a 
  circle,  and  its  place  as  moving  in  an  ellipse. 
 
  {Equations  of  condition}  (Math.),  equations  formed  for 
  deducing  the  true  values  of  certain  quantities  from  others 
  on  which  they  depend,  when  different  sets  of  the  latter, 
  as  given  by  observation,  would  yield  different  values  of 
  the  quantities  sought,  and  the  number  of  equations  that 
  may  be  found  is  greater  than  the  number  of  unknown 
  quantities. 
 
  {Equation  of  a  curve}  (Math.),  an  equation  which  expresses 
  the  relation  between  the  co["o]rdinates  of  every  point  in 
  the  curve. 
 
  {Equation  of  equinoxes}  (Astron.),  the  difference  between  the 
  mean  and  apparent  places  of  the  equinox. 
 
  {Equation  of  payments}  (Arith.),  the  process  of  finding  the 
  mean  time  of  payment  of  several  sums  due  at  different 
  times. 
 
  {Equation  of  time}  (Astron.),  the  difference  between  mean  and 
  apparent  time,  or  between  the  time  of  day  indicated  by  the 
  sun,  and  that  by  a  perfect  clock  going  uniformly  all  the 
  year  round. 
 
  {Equation}  {clock  or  watch},  a  timepiece  made  to  exhibit  the 
  differences  between  mean  solar  and  apparent  solar  time. 
  --Knight. 
 
  {Normal  equation}.  See  under  {Normal}. 
 
  {Personal  equation}  (Astron.),  the  difference  between  an 
  observed  result  and  the  true  qualities  or  peculiarities  in 
  the  observer;  particularly  the  difference,  in  an  average 
  of  a  large  number  of  observation,  between  the  instant  when 
  an  observer  notes  a  phenomenon,  as  the  transit  of  a  star, 
  and  the  assumed  instant  of  its  actual  occurrence;  or 
  relatively,  the  difference  between  these  instants  as  noted 
  by  two  observers.  It  is  usually  only  a  fraction  of  a 
  second  --  sometimes  applied  loosely  to  differences  of 
  judgment  or  method  occasioned  by  temperamental  qualities 
  of  individuals. 
 
  {Theory  of  equations}  (Math.),  the  branch  of  algebra  that 
  treats  of  the  properties  of  a  single  algebraic  equation  of 
  any  degree  containing  one  unknown  quantity. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  equation 
  n  1:  a  mathematical  statement  that  two  expressions  are  equal 
  2:  the  act  of  regarding  as  equal  [syn:  {equating}]




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