What are the 5 greatest mathematical/scientific equations of all time ?

Question

Greatest can be most important, most revolutionary, most beautiful etc. If you don't know the exact equation or have trouble with mathematical notation describe it by the name of the person responsible for it ie inventor

Answer 1

1. The Schrodinger Equation is the single most important in modern physics and chemistry:

H * psi = E * psi (eigenequation)

2. Einstein's famous equation for rest energy:

e = m*c^2

3. Newton's laws of motion:

F = dp/dt = ma

4. Euler's equation is the most beautiful:

e^(i*pi) + 1 = 0

5. The Pythagorean theorem is immensely well known:

a^2 + b^c = c^2, where c is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with sides a and b.

Answer 2

e = mc^2 (Albert Einstein, mass-energy equivalence)
e^(pi*i)+1 = 0
f = ma (Isaac Newton)
E = hv (where "v" is actually nu) (Max Planck)
And the one that kicked the whole thing off more than 2000 years ago:

x^2 = y^2 = z^2 (Pythagoras)

I'm also partial to the philosophy of the fictional Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen, the "Thinking Machine" detective of Jacques Futrelle's delightful stories, who often said, "Two and two make four -- not sometimes but *all* the time."

Answer 3

1. Maxwells equations (that's 4, but in this context I'd count them as a single 'set' of equations). They are listed in the Wiki article (too complex for this Yahoo.answers textbox):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell's_equations

2. V = I * R (Ohms Law)

3. E = m * c^2

I don't have a 4. and 5. off the top of my head

.

Answer 4

Hmm. Here's a start...

E = M C^2

F = M A

E (or V) = I x R

Edit: Agree with Isaac about Pythagoras. A^2 + B^2 = C^2
Edit2: Sin = Opposite / Hypotenuse

Answer 5

My nominees are:

e=mc^2 - impact can't be overstated
e^(i*pi) +1 = 0 - the great constants all in one formula.
a^2 + b^2 = c^2 - Pythagoras. Classic!
F = ma - Newton's classic
... and of course the fundamental theorem of calculus, which is a bit hard to express here, but here goes:
F'(x) = lim (as h goes to 0) of (F(x+h)-F(x)) / h

Answer 6

the quadratic formula (by ?)

cos^2 + sin^2 = cosh^2 - sinh^2 = 1 (by ?)

Vertex + Face - Edge = 2 + 2genus ( by Euler)

e^(i*pi) = -1 (by Euler)

Force = mass * acceleration (by Newton)

Energy = mass * (speed of light)^2 (by Einstein)

a^2 + b^2 = c^2 + 2ab cos C (by Pythagoras)

Answer 7

I'd say Isaac Newton's F = ma would be my #1