Have you ever thought about how certain formulas shape our world? From the simplicity of 1+1=2 to the complexity of E=MC², these equations aren’t just numbers and symbols—they are the essence of human progress. In this article, we explore ten groundbreaking formulas that have revolutionized science and technology. Dive into the stories and significance behind each one, and discover how these mathematical expressions have fundamentally transformed our understanding of the universe. Ready to unlock the secrets behind the world’s most influential formulas? Read on to find out more!
A few years ago, the esteemed British scientific journal “Physics World” conducted a reader poll to determine the “greatest formula” in science. The resulting list of ten most renowned formulas encompasses a diverse range of mathematical and physical concepts, from the deceptively simple 1 + 1 = 2 to the iconic E = MC².
This collection includes both elementary geometric formulas and complex mathematical expressions like Euler’s formula, showcasing the breadth and depth of human scientific achievement. These equations are not mere mathematical abstractions; they represent the pinnacle of human intellectual endeavor and serve as concise expressions of fundamental principles that govern our universe.
Each formula on this list has had a profound impact on the development of human society, often revolutionizing entire fields of study and shaping our understanding of the world around us. Some have even transcended their scientific origins to influence philosophy, technology, and popular culture.
While some of these formulas may be familiar to the general public, others might be less recognizable outside specialized fields. However, as members of an intellectually curious society, it is valuable to have at least a basic understanding of these formulas and the thought processes that led to their discovery or formulation.
For professionals in the field of electronics engineering, two formulas on this list are particularly significant and should be thoroughly understood and mastered: the Fourier transform and Maxwell’s equations. These mathematical tools form the foundation of modern electrical and electronic theory, enabling the analysis and design of complex systems that underpin our technological society.
In the spirit of scientific curiosity and shared knowledge, we have compiled these 10 famous formulas from various online sources to present them to you. Each formula represents a milestone in human understanding, and together they offer a glimpse into the elegant language of mathematics that describes our universe.
Founder: Ancients
Meaning: A mathematical expression of the beauty of nature.
This formula is awesome, we learned it from junior high school till now.
At present, humans have been able to obtain a pi rate of 206.1 billion digits. Still kind of boring.
A dozen pi values used in modern science and technology are enough.
If you use a 35-bit accuracy pi value to calculate the circumference of a circle that can wrap up the solar system, the error is less than one millionth of the proton diameter.
Most people now calculate pi for the purpose of verifying the computing power of a computer and for interest.
Founder: Jean Baptis Joseph Fourier
Significance: Any irregular signal can be expressed as an infinite superposition of regular sine waves.
It is an important method in the field of digital signal processing.
This is very professional, and most people don’t understand it at all.
In short, there is no computer today without this formula, so we should thank for this completely incomprehensible formula. In addition, although Fourier is surnamed Fu, he is French.
Founder: Louis Victor De Broglie
Significance: De Broglie believes that any substance is both particulate and volatile, or that any substance can also be regarded as a wave, including the person itself.
Man exists not only as a substance, but also as a wave in a sense.
This thing is also quite awesome.
Many concepts from high school physics to optics are its distant relatives.
In brief, DeBroglie thinks that electron is not only a particle, but also a wave, it also has a “wavelength”.
So we have this material wave equation, which expresses the relationship between wavelength, energy, and so on.
He also won the 1929 Nobel Prize in Physics.
This formula requires no name, no translation, no explanation.
Founder: Erwin Schrodinger
Significance: In quantum mechanics, the state of an object cannot be described by displacement, velocity, etc., as in classical mechanics, but only by a function of a physical quantity.
This physical quantity is no longer a certain value, but a probability distributed over time.
Every micro system has a corresponding Schrodinger equation.
The meaning of Schrodinger’s equation in quantum mechanics is the same as that of Newton’s second law in classical mechanics.
It is also completely unknown to most people.
Therefore, I extract the official evaluation: “The Schrodinger equation is the most widely used and influential formula in the world’s atomic physics literature.”
For his outstanding contributions to quantum mechanics, Schrodinger won the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics.
In addition, Schrodinger is Austrian.
Founder: Albert Einstein
Significance: The mass-energy equation profoundly reveals the relationship between mass and energy.
Prior to this, there was no doubt that mass was mass and energy was energy, and there was no connection between the two.
It was the discovery of the mass-energy equation that led to the explosion of atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs.
What is more important in this equation is that it completely subverts the inherent thinking of mankind and promotes the progress of human civilization.
It seems that a formula in the scientific community has never had such a broad meaning.
In the “miracle year” of physics in 1905, it was proposed by a young man named Einstein.
In the same year he also published “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Objects”-commonly known as special theory of relativity.
This formula tells us that Einstein is superb and energy and mass are interchangeable.
By-product: Atomic bomb.
Founder: Pythagoras (Some think that the Pythagorean theorem also appeared in the Shang Dynasty in China and proved it)
Significance: The Pythagorean Theorem is a typical method for solving graphical problems with mathematical methods.
There are currently more than 400 forms of proof.
3:4:5 triangle is so deep into the heart of every earth person.
Founder: Isaac Newton
Significance: Newton’s second law is at the core of classical physics, and it applies to every aspect of our daily lives.
It marked the beginning of true physics research.
Without Newton, human civilization would spend much longer in the dark world.
One of the greatest scientists of all time, the core law of one of the greatest scientific masterpieces of all time, “The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy”, is considered one of the greatest in classical physics.
All basic equations of power can be deduced from it by calculus.
Founder: Leonhard Euler
Significance: Many formulas in mathematics were discovered by Euler, so Euler’s formula is not a single formula.
Euler’s formula is widely distributed in various branches of mathematics.
Charles Kleiber, Swiss Secretary of State for Education and Research, said: “Without the many scientific discoveries of Euler, we will live a completely different life today.”
French mathematician Laplace believes that: after reading Euler, he is the teacher of everyone.
Was this formula written by God?
In the last few, the creators are all gods.
Euler is the most prolific mathematician in history and the scholar with the most books in all fields (including all branches of mathematics and mechanics, optics, acoustics, water conservancy, astronomy, chemistry, medicine, etc.).
The history of mathematics calls the eighteenth century the “Euler Age”.
Euler was born in Switzerland. He lost vision in his right eye at the age of 31 and was blind at the age of 59. However, he is optimistic, has amazing memory and concentration.
He was humble all his life and rarely named after what he found.
However, one of the most important constants is named – e.
About e, there was a joke before:
In a mental hospital, a patient said to others all day, “I differentiate you, I differentiate you.”
I don’t know why, these patients have a simple concept of calculus. They thought that one day they would be differentiated to zero and disappear like ordinary polynomial functions.
However, one day he met an unmoved person. He was surprised, and the person said to him lightly, “I am the x to the power of e.”
The cleverness of this formula is that it does not have any extra content.
It puts the most basic e, i, and pie in mathematics in the same formula, and also adds mathematics, which is the most important 0 and 1 in philosophy.
Connect with a simple plus sign.
Gauss once said: “The first time a person sees this formula without feeling its charm, he cannot become a mathematician.”
Founder: James Clark Maxwell
Significance: Organically unifies electric and magnetic fields into a complete electromagnetic field. And created the electromagnetic field theory, and without electromagnetic theory, there would be no social civilization today.
integro
differential
Anyone who can understand these formulas will definitely feel that there is a cool wind behind them – if there is no God, how to explain such a perfect equation?
This set of formulas combines Gauss’s law of electricity, Gauss’s law of magnetics, Faraday’s law, and Ampere’s law.
A more modest evaluation is: “Generally, any electromagnetic phenomenon in the universe can be explained by this system of equations.”
Later, Maxwell predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves from this set of formulas only by pen and paper calculations.
Don’t we always like to write some stories, for example, when Einstein was a child, he embarked on the path of studying hard and serving the motherland because of a certain stimulus?
In fact, this stimulus is the system of equations you see.
It is precisely because this system of equations perfectly unifies the entire electromagnetic field, so Einstein always wanted to unify the gravitational field in the same way, and put both macro and micro forces in the same set of formulas: the famous “big Unified theory. “
Einstein did not exit the tunnel until his death, and if he go out, we will see God himself at the other end of the tunnel.
Editor’s point of view: Einstein’s theory of relativity is based on the constant speed of light and is proved by geometric methods. And Maxwell’s equation contains exactly the principle of constant speed of light. Therefore, the cornerstone of Einstein’s theory of relativity is Maxwell’s equation!
As the founder of MachineMFG, I have dedicated over a decade of my career to the metalworking industry. My extensive experience has allowed me to become an expert in the fields of sheet metal fabrication, machining, mechanical engineering, and machine tools for metals. I am constantly thinking, reading, and writing about these subjects, constantly striving to stay at the forefront of my field. Let my knowledge and expertise be an asset to your business.
EN 
AR 
DE 
ES 
FR 
IT 
JA 
NL 
PT 
PT_BR 
RU 
KO