formula

a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement

directions for making something

a conventionalized statement expressing some fundamental principle

a representation of a substance using symbols for its constituent elements

something regarded as a normative example; "the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors"

a liquid food for infants

(mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems; "he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"