Final answer:
In mathematics, parentheses in an equation are used to group terms and dictate the order of operations. They can also simplify expressions by combining constants or be used to correctly apply exponents to all terms within them. Parentheses are vital in various scientific contexts, such as indicating dimensions in physics or counting atoms in a chemical formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
In mathematics, a part of an equation with parentheses, particularly when constant quantities are collected within, serves to organize and prioritize operations when solving equations. These parentheses indicate that you should perform the operations inside them first, according to the order of operations. For example, in an equation, you may see something like (3 + 2) × 4, which means you should add 3 + 2 before multiplying the result by 4. If constants are combined inside the parentheses, they can sometimes be replaced with a single symbol to simplify the equation further.
Additionally, parentheses are crucial when raising expressions to a power, as they denote that the exponent applies to everything within them. In scientific contexts, like physics, square brackets can be used similarly to indicate the dimensions of a quantity, such as [L] for length. In chemistry, when dealing with formulas that include polyatomic ions within parentheses, the subscript outside the parentheses acts as a multiplier for each atom inside.
It is also important to remember that when performing multiplication or division on either side of an equation, if there is more than one term, you should enclose these terms in parentheses to ensure that the operation applies to each term within them.