zequals

English

Etymology

Coined in 2013 by English author Rob Eastaway, from equals. Eastaway wrote that "the Z is for Zeroes, and also for the ZigZagness of the symbol".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈziːkwəlz/
• Rhymes: -iːkwəlz

Noun

zequals (uncountable)

1. (mathematics, rare) A technique for simplifying mental approximations by reducing each number to one significant figure followed by zeroes.
   • 2016, Rob Eastaway, Mike Askew, Maths on the Go: 101 Fun Ways to Play with Maths, page 31:

     Zequals is a fun way of ruthlessly rounding numbers so that every number you deal with becomes simple. Using Zequals, whenever you encounter a number, you immediately round it to a single digit followed by zeroes (if it's bigger than ten).

Verb

zequals

1. (mathematics, rare) Is equal to, after performing such a reduction.
   • 2016, Rob Eastaway, Mike Askew, Maths on the Go: 101 Fun Ways to Play with Maths, page 31:

     Using Zequals, whenever you encounter a number, you immediately round it to a single digit followed by zeroes (if it's bigger than ten). So for example: 18 zequals 20. 142 zequals 100. 2.3 zequals 2.