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For example, in a simple equation: xy = yz, the unknown y can be 'cancelled out'. What would be a more formal phrased with the meaning of 'cancel out'?

George Tian
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    "Cancellation" is already a formal phrase. – Parcly Taxel Sep 23 '17 at 05:01
  • $y$ can only be cancelled out when $y \neq 0$ – john doe Sep 23 '17 at 05:04
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    "We may divide both terms of the equality be the common factor y resulting in the reduced equality x = z". But as john doe points out, you can only do that if you know for certain $y\ne 0$ and as Parcly Taxel points out "cancellation" or "cancellation of common factors" is perfectly valid and acceptable and formal. – fleablood Sep 23 '17 at 05:09
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    @johndoe Thank you, but sorry for not explaining the physics context where the unknown being cancelled is a mass and therefore a non-zero value. – George Tian Sep 23 '17 at 05:15

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