formúla

Formúla is a term used in several languages to denote a formula, a concise symbolic representation of a rule, or a prescribed method. In mathematics and science, a formula is an expression that relates quantities, often involving variables that can take different values. In chemistry, a chemical formula communicates the composition of a substance by listing the chemical symbols and their counts, as in H2O for water. In physics, formulas express laws and principles, such as F = ma for Newton’s second law or E = mc^2 for mass–energy equivalence. In computing and data analysis, formulas appear in spreadsheets and programming as ways to compute new values from existing data.

The word Formúla and its variants appear across several languages, reflecting the Latin root formula meaning a fixed rule, shape, or arrangement. Related forms include fórmula in many Romance languages and formúla or formúla in others, with plural forms such as formulas or fórmulas depending on language. The modern concept of a formula emerged in ancient and medieval mathematics and was systematized with algebra in the early modern period, enabling concise representation of laws and relationships rather than verbal descriptions.

Notable formulas have wide reach across disciplines, from simple area formulas like A = πr^2 to fundamental equations in physics and chemistry. The term is also used in instruction, where learners memorize standard formulas as tools for problem solving.