"left side of the equation" vs "left hand side of the equation"

[Jaakov]

Dear all:

For the equation
term_1 = term_2,
which one is correct English:
- "left side of the equation" or
- "left hand side of the equation"
for term_1? I saw both in literature.

Best,

Jaakov.

[Phillip Helbig (undress to reply)]

Post by Jaakov
For the equation
term_1 = term_2,
- "left side of the equation" or
- "left hand side of the equation"
for term_1? I saw both in literature.

The first is OK. The second is not. What would also be OK:
"the left-hand side of the equation". Leaving out a dash between two
words which are used as an adjective together is one of the most common
mistakes, also among native speakers.

[Swifty]

Post by Phillip Helbig (undress to reply)
"the left-hand side of the equation".

I see a subtly difference between the "left side" and the "left-hand
side" of the equation.

The "left side of the equation" explicitly identifies the part to the
left of the equals sign.

On the other hand, the "left-hand side of the equation" identifies the
part to the left of centre of the equation, which might be quite
different, as in:

x = a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j + k + l + m + n + o

... I see "e" as lying in the left-hand side of the equation.

I suppose it depends on how rigorously mathematical you are.

[Jaakov]

Post by Swifty
x = a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j + k + l + m + n + o
... I see "e" as lying in the left-hand side of the equation.
I suppose it depends on how rigorously mathematical you are.

Thank you all!