# Math Help - I Need Help to Understand This

1. ## I Need Help to Understand This

I have never seen this expression before; Confused:

Can somebody explain the above formula to me, especially the area where the two (2's) are sitting above each other.
Orbital speed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2. ## Re: I Need Help to Understand This

Originally Posted by davidsf
I have never seen this expression before; Confused:

Can somebody explain the above formula to me, especially the area where the two (2's) are sitting above each other.
Orbital speed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
$\displaystyle m_1$ and $\displaystyle m_2$ are either constants or variables. I assume the m stands for mass, so $\displaystyle m_1$ would mean "first mass" and $\displaystyle m_2$ would mean "second mass".

Now $\displaystyle m_2^2$ is the same as $\displaystyle \left(m_2\right)^2$

3. ## Re: I Need Help to Understand This

Does (m2) refer to the variable m2 for example does it simply mean (second mass)^2

4. ## Re: I Need Help to Understand This

Originally Posted by davidsf
Does (m2) refer to the variable m2 for example does it simply mean (mass2)^2
Yes.

5. ## Re: I Need Help to Understand This

That's all I needed to know. Thank you Prove It