[Leaplist] Patent Infringement

[Homer Whittaker]

I have a  question on the same general topic, but down a different avenue.

In many of the copy writed text-books and scientific topic books the 
authors use formula in obtaining or formulating answers to the topic 
they are writing about.

The exact formula may be built to get answers to their text book 
problems, but the make up of the formula (X + X = 2X) may go back to 
High School math.

Are such formulations valid patentable writings and if so/not are there 
any HOWTO's or whatever on such?

Homer Whittaker