Final answer:
In mathematics, to 'represent' means to depict abstract ideas using various forms like equations, symbols, and graphs, to aid in understanding and analysis. Graphs can represent economic models, relationships between variables, and distribution of portions in a visual format that is intuitive and easy to understand.
Step-by-step explanation:
To represent something in mathematics means to use symbols, figures, or a combination of both to stand for concepts, quantities, relationships, or functions, so that these abstract ideas can be understood and analyzed visually or symbolically. For instance, in economics, economic models can be solved algebraically or graphically. Using graphs, we can depict data and relationships through various forms like line graphs, which show the relationship between two variables; pie graphs, which depict how a whole is divided into parts; and bar graphs, which can show relationships or comparisons between different entities and even subgroups within entities.
Expressing equations graphically is equally important as this helps in visual interpretation of mathematical relationships and functions. Graphs serve a dual purpose: illustrating equations and displaying statistical data. Whether showing how quantities change over time on a line graph or demonstrating how a budget is partitioned in a pie chart, the visual aspects of graphs help in understanding complex relationships and data better than numerical data alone.