A formula tells you how to work out something given another piece of information.

The formula F = 1.8C + 32 is used to convert a temperature in Centigrade to one in Fahrenheit.

When C = 10, we substitute this value into the formula to get:

F = 1.8 x 10 + 32

F = 18 + 32

F = 50

This means that 10º C is the same as 50º F

The plural of formula can be written as either formulas or formulae.

You will come to know many different formulae in both maths and science work.

Here's another example of a formula:

If we know that we have to double m and add 3 to get n, we can translate this into algebra as follows:

Double m and add 3 can we written as 2m + 3

This is what n equals.

We can write this as a formula:

n = 2m + 3

Let's have a go at some questions now.