Equivalents

Equivalents refers to items, quantities, or concepts that have the same value, meaning, or function within a defined context. The term is used across disciplines and everyday language.

In mathematics and logic, equivalence denotes a relation that partitions a set into equivalence classes. Elements are equivalent if related by the relation; such relations are reflexive, symmetric, and transitive. Logical equivalence means that two propositions are true together and false together, written as A if and only if B.

In measurement, equivalents express the idea that a quantity may be measured in different units but represents the same amount. Conversion factors provide the exact relationship, such as 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters or 1 liter equals 1000 cubic centimeters.

In chemistry, chemical equivalents describe reactive capacity: the amount of a substance that reacts with or supplies one mole of charge (protons, electrons) in a given reaction. Equivalents are calculated as equivalents = (mass × valence) / molar mass, and they simplify stoichiometric calculations in acid–base and redox chemistry.

In linguistics, translation equivalents or lexical equivalents are words or phrases in different languages that express the same meaning. Equivalents may be exact or approximate, and sensitive to context, false friends, or cultural nuance.

In other contexts, equivalents appear in finance, computing, and philosophy to denote things that serve the same function or value, such as currency equivalents, or programs that are functionally equivalent.