text: anything with an equal sign is an equation. a formula is a special equation with only one variable on the left hand side (in the west)\n\nfor example: a formula,   F = (M * C)^2, solves for something explicitly.\n\nan equation can have lots of stuff on either side,\n\n45Y-16X^2 + 90 = 54Z / 0.008X\n\nboth are equations, but when you solve for one variable in particular you can call it a formula.