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This may seem like a silly question but I can't seem to find something to tag a question asking a solution for an algebraic equation. There is a tag, but its description seems to strongly imply that it should only be used for... ahem... a system with more than one equation.

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    $\begingroup$ Some of the tags (algebra-precalculus), (polynomials), (roots), (quadratics), (cubic-equations) might be suitable for such question. (Notice that the tag-info for (polynomials) specifically mentions solving for roots.) $\endgroup$
    – Martin Sleziak
    Jan 26, 2015 at 7:36
  • $\begingroup$ Ok, but not all algebraic equations involve polynomials. The most recent example tagged "systems-of-equations" involves only exponentials (in a singe equation). N.B.: I see the commonly accepted def for "algebraic equation" involves only polynomials. What should we even call the other "algebraic" ones that aren't differential? $\endgroup$
    – Fizz
    Jan 26, 2015 at 7:46
  • $\begingroup$ I see "zeropoints" is a tag-synonym for "roots". I suppose one could add a mention of "roots" in the description of a "systems-of-equations", along the lines of "For a single equation (roots of a function)" use the tag "roots". $\endgroup$
    – Fizz
    Jan 26, 2015 at 7:55
  • $\begingroup$ I see that Wikipedia is doing it the other way around, en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Root_of_a_function redirects to "Zero of a function". $\endgroup$
    – Fizz
    Jan 26, 2015 at 8:00
  • $\begingroup$ @RespawnedFluff Just call them "equations" :) $\endgroup$
    – Najib Idrissi
    Jan 26, 2015 at 8:23
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    $\begingroup$ There would really be no good reason to have a tag for single algebraic equations. $\endgroup$
    – Alexander Gruber is striking Mod
    Jan 26, 2015 at 9:05
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    $\begingroup$ @RespawnedFluff, perhaps you're looking for transcendental-equations? $\endgroup$
    – Antonio Vargas
    Jan 29, 2015 at 3:33

1 Answer 1

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There are already a lot of tags for equations, including , , , , .

Additionally, if none of these apply, you can consider tagging with , , or according to the domain in which you seek solutions. I think this would allow for almost all questions to have at least one applicable tag, which is probably the most important goal of your suggestion. Sure, these won't be the most descriptive tag, but a prospective wouldn't carry a lot of information either.

Basically, I cannot imagine why someone would be specifically (un)interested in single equations (whereas has ties with e.g. linear algebra). This strongly reduces the merits of having the tag, to the point where I don't see a virtue in having it.

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  • $\begingroup$ And transcendental-equations in addition to those, as Antonio Vargas pointed out. Thanks for writing a detailed answer pointing out almost all the [better] alternatives. $\endgroup$
    – Fizz
    Mar 4, 2015 at 15:49

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