Editing Formula (section)

{{Short description|Concise way of expressing information symbolically}}
{{other uses}}
{{multiple image
| footer    = On the left is a [[sphere]], whose volume {{math|''V''{{spaces|thin}}}} is given by the mathematical formula {{math|1=''V'' {{=}} {{sfrac|4|3}} &pi; ''r''<sup>3</sup>}}. On the right is the compound [[isobutane]], which has chemical formula (CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>CH.
| width     = 130

| image1    = Sphere_wireframe_10deg_6r.svg
| alt1      = A sphere

| image2    = Isobutane_numbered_2D.svg
| alt2      = Isobutane
}}
[[File:Edsger Dijkstra 1994.jpg|thumb|upright|One of the most influential figures of [[computing science]]'s [[list of pioneers in computer science|founding generation]], [[Edsger Dijkstra]] at the blackboard during a conference at [[ETH Zurich]] in 1994. In Dijkstra's own words, "[[A picture is worth a thousand words|A picture may be worth a thousand words]], a formula is worth a thousand pictures."<ref>[[Edsger Dijkstra|Dijkstra, E.W.]] (July 1996), ''[https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/transcriptions/EWD12xx/EWD1239.html A first exploration of effective reasoning]'' [EWD896]. (E.W. Dijkstra Archive, Center for American History, [[University of Texas at Austin]])</ref>]]

In [[science]], a '''formula''' is a concise way of expressing information symbolically, as in a '''mathematical formula''' or a ''[[chemical formula]]''. The informal use of the [[terminology|term]] ''formula'' in science refers to the [[Commensurability (philosophy of science)|general construct of a relationship between given quantities]].  

The plural of ''formula'' can be either ''formulas'' (from the most common [[English plurals#Regular plurals|English plural noun form]]) or, under the influence of [[scientific Latin]], ''formulae'' (from the [[Latin influence in English|original Latin]]).<ref name="oxford">{{OED|formula}}</ref>