why do we put "M" for the answer for slope?
EX.
y=mx+b
2006-10-02 02:16:26 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
visit the source list i posted here. all tha answers are there. including why use x and y
2006-10-02 05:06:27 · answer #1 · answered by minaco 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the formula, m and b are constants and were not used in early books to represent slope. After being assigned (without explanation?) it has become conventional. Some refer to M as the modulus but the answer could be as simple as the fact that M can be hand printed with many slopes leaning against each other. The letter m has a different function (slope) than the constant b (displacement on a graph) and it is logical that a constants from the beginning and middle of the alphabet would be used to emphasize the difference (vs y=mx + n or y= ax + b which would both work in algebra).
2006-10-02 02:36:43 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one knows why
It could be because
"In our system, the first letters of
the alphabet, a, b , c... represent the constants, the last
letters, x, y, z represent the unknown variables and the middle
letters, m, n, p... represents the parameters. When we started the
explanations of slope, it was in studying the first degree
equation: y = mx + b. x and y were the variables, b was fixed and
considered as a constant, and what was appended to the
coefficient of x as its value varied. So it was a parameter and
that is why we used m."
it could be because
I
think of m as standing for "move" and b for "begin." This relates to the
way you graph linear equations by hand. You can use the b value to plot
the "beginning" point (0,b). Then the m value instructs you where to "move"
from point (0,b) to plot the next point, thus giving you the line for the
equation.
2006-10-02 02:20:15 · answer #3 · answered by Mein Hoon Na 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slope is the rise/run of the line y/x
In the equation y=mx+b
when x=0 y=b this tells you where the y intercept is
Set y=O whth known b and solve for x, this is the x intercept now draw the line between the two points.
2006-10-02 02:27:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
m=rise/run
y=mx+b
the slope-formula and the slot=point formula give out the M
there is no real reason why we use M, if you wanted to know why we used M for slop then why do we use X and Y for points?
2006-10-02 02:53:23 · answer #5 · answered by qtgyjda89 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a convention. You can use what you like as long as you know it is slope of the line.
2006-10-02 02:20:53 · answer #6 · answered by openpsychy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is just a custom. Any letter except x, y and z would do as well. The x,y,x are reserved for naming the major axis in space.
2006-10-02 02:27:45 · answer #7 · answered by oleh k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because m is the first letter of the word measure
2006-10-02 02:25:28 · answer #8 · answered by iyiogrenci 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
b/c they said so
2006-10-02 03:27:50 · answer #9 · answered by ellygirl360 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋