Materials are inputs to production[?] or manufacturing. They are often raw - that is unprocessed, but are sometimes processed before being used in more advanced production processes. In general, in technologically advanced societies, the materials are not finished consumer goods.
... a field of characteristic 2, the element 2a is zero and it is impossible to divide by it.)
The symbol
<math>\pm \sqrt {b^2-4ac}</math>
in the formula ...