In y=mx+b, why does the letter 'm' stand for slope instead of 's'? Is there a web site that explains this?

Answer 1

Apparently the origin is unknown although there is a possible French connection

Answer 2

It is just a symbol. s is often used to denote distance between two points. So in order that people don't get confused someone used m. You can use another symbol if you like, for example you may write the equation as
y = β.x + c

Doesn't matter what symbol you choose. I think the letter "m" came from the "mean value theorem" in calculus where the slope of a curve is defined as the derivative of the curve at a given point. But unless you are familiar with calculus don't worry about the mean value thing.

Answer 3

i don't know if there is. But they just used letter 'm' as a symbol for slope for computation purposes, and it is the widely accepted one since many author uses that symbol. However, you can substitute any letter or symbol you like if you really want to, it's not as if you changed the meaning of the equation by so doing, you just define what that letter means so that other people reading your work can understand you, and it'll be okay.

Answer 4

It's because s was used for other other things (such as arc length, surface area, etc.), therefore m was used for slope.

Answer 5

http://www.math.duke.edu/education/webfeats/Slope/Slopederiv.html

this site has some interesting ideas on the subject

Answer 6

s is not used cause s denotes speed so therfore m denotes the slope

Answer 7

use ur senses
nothing else
donot try to be so conceptual
that people think u r silly

Answer 8

here is the link. check the answer for the question on this site for your answer

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/54520.html

Answer 9

I think "m" stands for measure of slope.
could be wrong of course...

Answer 10

hahahahahaha... no clue!