diff --git a/src/math/polysat/eq_explain.cpp b/src/math/polysat/eq_explain.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a6795c1e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/math/polysat/eq_explain.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+/*++
+Copyright (c) 2021 Microsoft Corporation
+
+Module Name:
+
+    Conflict explanation
+
+Author:
+
+    Nikolaj Bjorner (nbjorner) 2021-03-19
+    Jakob Rath 2021-04-6
+
+--*/
+#include "math/polysat/eq_explain.h"
+#include "math/polysat/solver.h"
+
+namespace polysat {
+
+    
+    /**
+     * a*v = 0 => a*2^j = 0 or v*2^k = 0
+     * for j + k < K
+     *
+     * az = trailing_zeros(a)
+     * a << (K - az - 1) = 0 or v << az = 0
+     * 
+     */
+    
+    bool eq_explain::explain_zero(pvar v, pdd & a, pdd & b, signed_constraint c, conflict& core) {
+        pdd bv = s.subst(b);
+        if (!bv.is_zero())
+            return false;
+        rational av = s.subst(a).val();
+        SASSERT(!av.is_zero());
+        unsigned K = a.power_of_2();
+        unsigned az = av.trailing_zeros();
+        SASSERT(az < K);
+        core.reset();
+        core.insert(c);
+        core.propagate(s.eq(b));
+        core.propagate(~s.eq(a.shl(K - az - 1)));
+        core.propagate(~s.eq(b.shl(az)));
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    bool eq_explain::try_explain1(pvar v, signed_constraint c, conflict& core) {
+        if (!c.is_eq())
+            return false;
+        if (!c.is_currently_false(s))
+            return false;
+        auto p = c->to_ule().lhs();
+        unsigned deg = p.degree(v);
+        if (deg != 1)
+            return false;
+        auto& m = p.manager();
+        pdd a = m.zero(), b = m.zero();
+        p.factor(v, 1, a, b);
+        if (explain_zero(v, a, b, c, core))
+            return true;
+       
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    bool eq_explain::try_explain(pvar v, conflict& core) {
+        for (auto c : core) 
+            if (try_explain1(v, c, core))
+                return true;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/math/polysat/eq_explain.h b/src/math/polysat/eq_explain.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..30da45da8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/math/polysat/eq_explain.h
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/*++
+Copyright (c) 2021 Microsoft Corporation
+
+Module Name:
+
+    Conflict explanation
+
+Author:
+
+    Nikolaj Bjorner (nbjorner) 2021-03-19
+    Jakob Rath 2021-04-6
+
+--*/
+#pragma once
+#include "math/polysat/explain.h"
+
+namespace polysat {
+
+    class solver;
+
+    class eq_explain : public explainer {
+    private:
+        bool try_explain1(pvar v, signed_constraint c, conflict& core);
+        bool explain_zero(pvar v, pdd& a, pdd& b, signed_constraint c, conflict& core);
+    public:
+        eq_explain(solver& s) : explainer(s) {}
+        bool try_explain(pvar v, conflict& core) override;
+    };
+
+}