text: what's the difference between a formula and an equation? please tell me.  thank you. 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)  for example: a formula,   f = (m * c)^2, solves for something explicitly.  an equation can have lots of stuff on either side,  45y-16x^2 + 90 = 54z / 0.008x  both are equations, but when you solve for one variable in particular you can call it a formula.