Commonly Mispronounced Equations
Commonly Mispronounced Equations
[Each equation is bordered, with a pronunciation guide beneath.]
Commonly Mispronounced Equations
Row 1
F = G m₁m₂/r² FUH- JAM -ER
E = mc² EM -CAH-TOO
a² + b² = c² AT- BOOT -COOT
Row 2
A = πr² APP -ER-TOO
H = −Σpᵢlog pᵢ HA- SPLOG -PEE
PV = nrt PAV -NURT
Row 3
e iπ = −1 EYE -PIN
F = ma FEE -MAH
∂²u/(∂t²) = c ∂²u/(∂x²) DOOT CAH- DOOX
Row 4
f'(x) = lim h→0 f(x+h) − f(x) / h FAX -LIM-OH FAX -UH-FOX
x = −b ± √(b² − 4ac) / (2a) ZA- BO -BA FAK- TOH -AH

This comic is a collection of very commonly used physics and mathematical equations, along with their "correct" pronunciations. Equations are normally voiced out loud either by their names ("mass-energy equivalence") or by saying the parts out loud using normal linguistic rules ("E equals m c squared"). This comic instead asserts that equations are meant to be said out loud like words, using their own set of phonic rules.
Though the premise may initially seem absurd, some nerds have both the trait of using equations as commonly as others might chat and that of finding it entertaining to coin amusing new words ("input", "pwn"). Saying the equations more rapidly can speed up work or make work seem more enjoyable.  This phenomenon is called clipping .
Using clipped or verbalized forms of equations is sometimes standard practice within a given field. The equation for continuously compounding interest A=Pe rt is commonly taught and discussed as the "pert" equation, while the definitions of the main trigonometric functions is similarly taught and discussed as SOH-CAH-TOA: sine = opposite/hypotenuse, cosine = adjacent/hypotenuse, and tangent = opposite/adjacent. These particular "corrections" are all nonstandard, however, occasionally conflicting with more normal readings like "pivnert" for the ideal gas law. The "corrections" are also internally inconsistent, with equal signs and exponents sometimes omitted and sometimes included and intermediate vowels.
[Each equation is bordered, with a pronunciation guide beneath.]
Commonly Mispronounced Equations
Row 1
F = G m₁m₂/r² FUH- JAM -ER
E = mc² EM -CAH-TOO
a² + b² = c² AT- BOOT -COOT
Row 2
A = πr² APP -ER-TOO
H = −Σpᵢlog pᵢ HA- SPLOG -PEE
PV = nrt PAV -NURT
Row 3
e iπ = −1 EYE -PIN
F = ma FEE -MAH
∂²u/(∂t²) = c ∂²u/(∂x²) DOOT CAH- DOOX
Row 4
f'(x) = lim h→0 f(x+h) − f(x) / h FAX -LIM-OH FAX -UH-FOX
x = −b ± √(b² − 4ac) / (2a) ZA- BO -BA FAK- TOH -AH
