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i know that 'm' is the slope and 'b' is the y-intercept but what does the actual letter stand for. like what is the word that makes people use 'm' instead of 's'? also please list sources and websites for where i can find this answer.
thanxx in advance =]

2007-09-26 10:34:30 · 7 answers · asked by ? 2 in Science & Mathematics Mathematics

7 answers

m is greek for slope
b is greek for y intercept

2007-09-26 10:38:39 · answer #1 · answered by carlosboozer 2 · 1 0

I had always heard that it came from the work Modulus -- which refers to divisors and remainders.

The source below lists this as a possibility but also indicates that it may have come from Descartes who took it for the French word for "To Climb."

2007-09-26 17:45:02 · answer #2 · answered by Ranto 7 · 0 0

m is the slope, and b is the y-intercept

edit: oh sorry didnt read your whole question before hand :-p

that is an interesting question. I'll get back to it if I find an answer.

2007-09-26 17:37:47 · answer #3 · answered by erikoo7 3 · 0 0

i don't think that they stand for anything but i think that the m is a standard cause i also use that so it may stand for something (but don't know for sure) and i really don't think that the b is for anything cause at school i use a "c" instead of a "b" for that same equation.

2007-09-26 17:44:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Check my link. It's easier than cutting and pasting

2007-09-26 17:42:54 · answer #5 · answered by RadioActive 3 · 0 0

it refers to the word in a different language i think german or french.

2007-09-26 17:40:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

That's a good question.

2007-09-26 17:38:15 · answer #7 · answered by D R 2 · 0 0

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