The Most Popular Equation, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the equation you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 28, 2024 06:36
In the world of mathematics, equations are the building blocks that help us understand the universe. From everyday calculations to complex scientific theories, knowing which equations are considered most influential can be crucial for both learners and experts. Getting a sense of what a large community values can provide insights and provoke curiosity about lesser-known or surprisingly crucial formulas.
By participating in the voting process, users not only get to express their preferences but also contribute to a collective knowledge resource. This process aids in highlighting the impact and application of various equations across different fields. It's an engaging way for individuals to see the influence their favorite mathematical tools wield compared to others and discover new equations that could be essential to their academic or professional growth.
What Is the Most Popular Equation?
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150votesThis equation is arguably the most famous equation in the world, as it represents Einstein's theory of special relativity. It explains how mass and energy are equivalent and interchangeable.The equation E=mc² is a fundamental equation in physics that expresses the equivalence between energy (E) and mass (m) in the context of special relativity. It states that the energy (E) of an object is equal to its mass (m) multiplied by the speed of light (c) squared.
- Name: E=mc²
- Type: Equation
- Field: Physics
- Discovery Year: 1905
- Concept: Equivalence of energy and mass
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240votesThis equation is known as Newton's second law of motion, which explains that a force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration.The equation F=ma represents Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force acting on an object is directly proportional to its mass and the acceleration produced by that force.
- Equation: F=ma
- Meaning: Force (F) is equal to mass (m) multiplied by acceleration (a)
- Physical Quantity: F: Force (Newton), m: Mass (Kilogram), a: Acceleration (meter per second squared)
- Proportional Relationship: Force is directly proportional to both mass and acceleration
- Direction of Force: Force and acceleration have the same direction
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323votes
Pythagorean theorem (a² + b² = c²)
PythagorasThis equation is used to find the length of the sides of a right triangle. It is named after the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras.The Pythagorean theorem is a mathematical principle that relates the sides of a right triangle. It states that the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.- Formula: a² + b² = c²
- Type: Geometric theorem
- Applicable to: Right triangles
- Purpose: Determining unknown side lengths in right triangles
- Field: Geometry
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411votes
Schrödinger's equation
Erwin SchrödingerThis equation describes the behavior of quantum particles, including electrons in atoms, and is essential for understanding quantum mechanics.The Schrödinger's equation is a fundamental equation in quantum mechanics that describes the behavior of quantum particles.- Mathematical Formulation: The equation is represented by a differential equation that describes the time evolution of the wave function of a quantum system.
- Wave Function: The equation uses the wave function to represent the state of a system, providing probabilities for the outcomes of observations.
- Deterministic: While it is probabilistic, the equation is deterministic, meaning that it predicts the evolution of the wave function over time precisely.
- Complex Numbers: The equation uses complex numbers to handle interference and the wave-like properties of quantum particles.
- Time-Independent: There are both time-independent and time-dependent versions of the Schrödinger's equation, depending on the system being analyzed.
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514votes
Waveguide2 (talk) (Transferred by Nk/Originally uploaded by Waveguide2) · Public domainOhm's law (V=IR)
Georg Simon OhmThis equation relates the voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit and is fundamental to the study of electricity and electronics.Ohm's law is a fundamental equation in electrical engineering that relates the voltage (V) across a conductor, the current (I) flowing through it, and the resistance (R) of the conductor. It states that the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage across it and inversely proportional to the resistance of the conductor.- Equation: V = IR
- Proportionality: The current (I) is directly proportional to the voltage (V) and inversely proportional to the resistance (R).
- Voltage Unit: Volt (V)
- Current Unit: Ampere (A)
- Resistance Unit: Ohm (Ω)
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612votes
This W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Inkscape . · CC BY-SA 3.0Maxwell's equations
James Clerk MaxwellThese equations describe the behavior of electromagnetic fields and are essential to understanding the nature of light, radio waves, and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.Maxwell's equations are a set of fundamental equations in electromagnetism that describe the behavior of electric and magnetic fields. They were formulated by the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell in the 19th century.- Gauss's law for electric fields: Relates electric fields to electric charges and their distributions.
- Gauss's law for magnetic fields: Relates magnetic fields to magnetic charges and their distributions.
- Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction: Describes how changing magnetic fields induce electric fields.
- Ampère's law with Maxwell's addition: Relates magnetic fields to electric currents and changing electric fields.
- Differential form: Maxwell's equations are often expressed in their differential form, which represents how the fields change continuously in space and time.
Maxwell's equations in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most beautiful equation in Physics
- Position 3 of 10 in Most beautiful equation in mathematics
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79votesThis equation is used to price options and other financial derivatives and is widely used in the finance industry.The Black-Scholes equation, also known as the Black-Scholes-Merton equation, is a partial differential equation used to model the pricing of financial derivatives, particularly European-style options. It provides a mathematical framework for determining the fair price of options based on various inputs such as the current price of the underlying asset, the strike price, the time to maturity, the risk-free interest rate, and the volatility of the underlying asset's returns.
- Type: Partial differential equation
- Application: Pricing of European-style options
- Inputs: Underlying asset price, strike price, time to maturity, risk-free interest rate, volatility
- Assumptions: Efficient markets, constant volatility, no dividends, risk-free rate constant over time
- Formula: ∂V/∂t + (1/2)σ²S²∂²V/∂S² + rS∂V/∂S - rV = 0
The Black-Scholes equation in other rankings- Position 6 of 10 in Most beautiful equation in mathematics
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85votesThis equation is used to estimate the number of intelligent civilizations in the universe and is often used in discussions about extraterrestrial life.The Drake equation is a scientific formula used to estimate the number of active, communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy.
- Number of stars formed per year in the Milky Way: Between 1-10
- Percentage of stars that have planets: Between 20-50%
- Number of planets per star that are habitable: Unknown
- Percentage of habitable planets where life actually develops: Unknown
- Percentage of developed life that evolves into intelligent beings: Unknown
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96votesThese equations describe the motion of fluids and are essential to understanding fluid dynamics, including the flow of air over airplane wings and the behavior of ocean currents.The Navier-Stokes equations are a set of partial differential equations that describe the motion of fluid substances. They are named after Claude-Louis Navier and George Gabriel Stokes, who independently derived them in the 19th century.
- Equation type: System of nonlinear partial differential equations
- Fluid motion: Describes the motion of viscous fluids
- Conservation laws: Includes conservation of mass, momentum, and energy
- Vector field: Involves the velocity vector field and the pressure scalar field
- Applications: Used in various fields such as aerospace engineering, fluid dynamics, and weather forecasting
The Navier-Stokes equations in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most difficult Physics problem
- Position 4 of 10 in Most difficult Calculus problem
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108votesThis equation describes the behavior of waves, including sound waves and light waves, and is essential to understanding the nature of wave phenomena.The Wave equation is a partial differential equation that describes how waves propagate through a medium. It models physical phenomena like sound waves, light waves, and water waves.
- Equation type: Partial differential equation
- Mathematical form: Second-order linear homogeneous equation
- Dependent variable: Amplitude of the wave
- Independent variables: Time and space coordinates
- Wave speed: Dependent on the medium
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Ranking factors for popular equation
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ApplicabilityThe equation's usefulness in solving real-world problems, its presence in various fields or industries, and the frequency of its use are crucial factors for its popularity.
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SimplicityThe ease of understanding and implementing the equation can contribute to its popularity. The simpler an equation is, the more likely it is to be widely taught, understood, and used.
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ImportanceThe impact of the equation on science, technology, and society is a critical factor. Equations that have significantly advanced human knowledge or practical applications are typically more popular.
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UniversalityEquations that are valid across a broad range of situations or physical systems will be more popular than those limited to specific cases.
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Historical significanceEquations that played a pivotal role in the development of a scientific theory or concept or have a rich history may be more popular due to their historical importance.
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Scientific community's acknowledgmentThe recognition and esteem the equation receives among researchers, educators, and professionals can impact its popularity.
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Educational exposureEquations widely taught in schools and universities are likely to be more popular and well-known.
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Cultural impactEquations that have gained recognition or become famous outside the scientific community, such as through films, books, or other media, may be considered more popular.
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Recognition in reference materialsEquations that are commonly found in textbooks, encyclopedias, and other reference materials will generally be more popular.
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AccessibilityHow easily the equation can be accessed and understood by people with varying educational backgrounds can influence its popularity. If the equation can be easily explained and understood by a wider audience, it is likely to be more popular.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular equation. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or equation is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1450 views
- 176 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each equation once every 24 hours. The rank of each equation is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular equation
Mathematics is a subject that has fascinated humans for centuries, and equations are at the heart of this field. Equations are a way of expressing relationships between different variables and finding solutions to problems. While there are countless equations that have been developed over the years, some have become more popular than others. From the simple and ubiquitous Pythagorean theorem to the complex and mind-bending Schrödinger equation, there are equations that have captured the imaginations of mathematicians and laypeople alike. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular equations and the reasons behind their enduring appeal.
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