Why Is The Varible "M" Used To Represent Slope?
2007-12-14 01:41:42 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
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2007-12-14 01:46:06 · answer #1 · answered by jgoulden 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"It is not known why the letter m was chosen for slope; the choice may have been arbitrary. John Conway has suggested m could stand for "modulus of slope." One high school algebra textbook says the reason for m is unknown, but remarks that it is interesting that the French word for 'to climb' is monter. However, there is no evidence to make any such connection. Descartes, who was French, did not use m. In Mathematical Circles Revisited (1971) mathematics historian Howard W. Eves suggests 'it just happened.'"
2007-12-14 09:51:44 · answer #2 · answered by mathdummie11 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because s is speed.
2007-12-14 09:44:54 · answer #3 · answered by waffles 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
don't know but it has always been like that
2007-12-14 09:44:39 · answer #4 · answered by stringsdepotplus 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋