Why is the letter "m" used and not "s" to indicate slope? For example, m=3 would indicate that the slope is equal to 3.
2006-10-30 04:25:11 · 5 answers · asked by Chris R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
may be from measure of tan theta
because slope =tan theta
2006-10-30 04:28:14 · answer #1 · answered by raj 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not a rule, you can use any letter you want provided it's meaning is clear.
2006-10-30 04:30:29 · answer #2 · answered by Steiner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is because s can tend to look like a 5.
2006-10-30 04:29:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is just an old convention that a linear equation is expressed as
y=mx+c
where m is the slope
Theoretically you can use any alphabet
2006-10-30 04:35:02 · answer #4 · answered by grandpa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard a few different answers but none of them are definitive.
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/52477.html
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/mtx/library/FAQ/5B.html
2006-10-30 04:28:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋