Equal vs Equivalence

Sometimes two words have very little difference, but that little difference makes a big difference. Two such words are equal and equivalent. 

Much is said about equality in our society. Many things said to be equal are not, but they are equivalent. Consider the difference.

Equality is a noun, the plural of which is equalities. It means the state or quality of being equal in quality, degree, value, rank, or ability.

Equivalent, is an adjective which means to be of equal value, measure, force, effect, or significance. It means equal to, but not the same as.

Equivalence means the value is the same. For example 4 is equal to 4, but 4 is not equal to 8/2 although it is equivalent. The difference between equality and equivalence is that when you say that two things are equal you are saying they are the same or that there is no difference between them.

Equality means the type and the value are the same, while equivalence means that while the types are not the same, the value is the same.

To say some things are equivalent is to indicate they are of the same worth, value, class and dignity, but not identical.

Equivalent things are not equal because they are not identical, but they are of the same value, worth, class, and dignity.

When two things are the same in some specific way, but not identical, they are said to be equivalent.

Two propositions are equivalent only if they mean the same thing. Two is less than four means the same thing as four is greater than two, although the two expressions aren’t equal, identical, that is.