Why is "x" the most commonly used variable in mathematics?

Question

I need to know why is "x" the most commonly used variable in mathematics.
I tried looking it up by websearch. But it just wont work.

Answer 1

It is derived from the Cartesian coordinate system which denotes the three directions of Cartesian space as X,Y and Z. Simple algebraic equation that use X are one dimensional and are plotted along the X axis. That is also why you see x, y and z used in algebraic equations.

Now, the question is how did X, Y and Z get chosen for the Cartesian coordinate system. You now have a place to search--i.e., Google "origins of cartesian coordinate system."

Answer 2

The Hindu-arabic scholar Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi is considered the founder of Algebra. His Book Hisab al-jabr w'al-muqabala (Literally in english: Mathematics of reunion and opposition) is considered the first book on Algebra. In fact thye word Al-Gebra is a distortion of a part of the name of his book: "Al-jabr".

When the Italians adopted the science of Algebra first around the early Thirteenth century, they also adopted this word. later it was adopted by the english as Aljeber. this word was mixed up with the Spanish understanding of the word Al-Jabr to mean "Bone Setting". So, at the end of it, the mathematics stream became a homonym to the orthopaedics, and the letter X as a symbol of this science, came to be adopted as the universal symbol for the unknown.

In other words, you could say that the most used variable for the unknown has its origins in an entirely unrelated field of Orthopaedics and medicine. Now, why the X symbol is so important in Medicine is another fable of wars, mysteries and Pagan history. That one another day, perhaps...

Answer 3

If this is for a book or a project, you may want to try figuring out what chapter you are in for this class. Then *gasp* read the chapter! If all else fails, ask for hints from your teacher or classmates. Otherwise, trying to use the Internet to look up trivia like that is going to be fruitless.

Answer 4

What replaced into the question, i think of it have been given deleted. i've got purely purely have been given hazard to get on, and no it extremely isn't any longer a properly-known term in u . s . a . of america, they say panties. some have the understanding of what it ability yet maximum don't be attentive to. FYI fanny ability backside to them, play with that in case you prefer, i've got heard you do.

Answer 5

"x" is the powerful tool of any mathematician . just placing x u can do any thinking , it could be a finite number or decimal number ,fraction number ,etc. the range of "x" is unlimited numeric numbers.easy 2place on Ur memory

Answer 6

Maybe because it's harder to get it confused with a number? I mean you wouldn't chose the letter "o" would you, since it looks like a zero, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't chose the letter "l" as in "lima bean" either becuase it can look like a 1. I mean x is x, although now that I think about it, it can look like the multiplication symbol too..Hmm, good question, I dunno.

Answer 7

Because from the view point of algebra ,x is considered in usual the root of certain equation

Answer 8

"x" is the most common variable because it is the variable used for 2-dimentional motion, hence the "x-axis".

Answer 9

X means "Unknown". The origin of the term X ray.

Answer 10

You can use whatever letter you want if you are uncomfortable with using an X.