Equation: GCSE Maths Definition

What is an equation?

In GCSE maths an equation is an algebraic statement that shows that two expressions are equal. It is written with an equals sign (=) between two expressions, which could be made up of constant terms, algebraic terms, or a combination of both.

In GCSE maths, most equations dealt with will be either linear or quadratic.

Linear equations have a degree of one, meaning that the highest power of the variable is one, with no negative or fractional powers. Linear equations are generally either in the form, or able to be rearranged into the form, , where and are constants and is a variable. Some examples of linear equations are:

Both of these can be solved to find a single value of .

Quadratic equations have a degree of two, meaning that the highest power of the variable is two, with no negative or fractional powers. Quadratic equations are generally either in the form, or able to be be rearranged into the form, , where and are constants and is a variable. Some examples of quadratic equations are:

• 

• .

Both of these can be solved to find two possible values of . In general quadratic equations can have up to two solutions, although some only have one and some have none.

Equations revision resources to ace your exams

You can find out more about equations, and how they can be used, by reading our revision notes. To test your knowledge, try our exam questions in the algebra section.

For quick-fire GCSE maths revision, use our collection of interactive flashcards for GCSE maths. We also have past papers for your exam practice.

Explore our GCSE maths revision resources