võrdused

Võrdused is a plural Estonian noun used for statements of equality and for expressions of similarity. The term appears in mathematics as well as in everyday language, where it also covers figures of speech that compare or link concepts.

In mathematics, võrdus denotes an equality relation between two expressions, typically written with the equals sign, as in 2 + 3 = 5. Such statements can be true or false, and solving problems often involves transforming both sides while preserving the equality. In standard mathematical terminology, võrrand (equation) is the term used for a relation that involves one or more unknowns to be determined; a võrdus, by contrast, is the assertion of equality itself.

In linguistics and rhetoric, võrdused refer to figures of speech that establish likeness between two different things. They include similes and metaphors and are used to convey imagery, emphasis, or insight. Examples in English would be phrases like “life is a journey” (metaphor) or “as quiet as a mouse” (simile). Such devices help express complex ideas succinctly or vividly.

Võrdused are taught in education to build understanding of both numerical equality and figurative language. They support learning across subjects by illustrating how equality and comparison operate in reasoning, communication, and interpretation. See also: võrrand, võrdlus, simile, metaphor.