An equation has carbon dioxide and water as its products, what type of reaction has taken place?

would it be synthesis?

Nah, how about oxidation of a hydrocarbon, particularly combustion?

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/program/education/us/en/documents/project-design/react/react-presentation.pdf

The equation you described where carbon dioxide and water are the products indicates a chemical reaction known as combustion.

To determine the type of reaction that has taken place, we need to understand the reactants and products involved. In this case, we have carbon dioxide and water as the products. When we see the formation of carbon dioxide and water as products, it indicates a chemical reaction called combustion.

Combustion is a chemical reaction that involves the rapid combination of a substance, typically a fuel, with oxygen. The fuel undergoes oxidation and produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) as byproducts.

To further confirm the reaction type, it would be helpful to have information about the reactants involved. If the reactants include a fuel source (such as hydrocarbons like methane, ethane, or gasoline), and the products are carbon dioxide and water, then it is likely that the equation represents a combustion reaction.