If you are good in maths give a resonable reply to my question? / myLot

Hungary

May 3, 2007 2:38pm CST

though I was not a bright student in maths in my class but still I could solve some problems.Still one question I have in my mind.the question is that why do we suppose 'X'for unknown vlues in maths?Do you have any reply to my question?:)

1 person likes this

4 responses

vishnu_badlapur

@vishnu_badlapur (560)

• India

3 May 07

'X'?? You are too weak in maths.... Its not compulsory to use X in any case. You can use any alphabet for unknown values. The thing is that the alphabet X is generally used for any unknown thing. For eg, X-Rays.....

1 person likes this

manvik

@manvik (981)

• Hungary

3 May 07

Thanks for the reply.Yes I am weak inmaths but still i am an MA in maths:).Why don't we say Y-rays,S-rays?

vishnu_badlapur

@vishnu_badlapur (560)

• India

3 May 07

MA in maths?? Thats great.... This has been a trend with all the studies, not only maths to call a unknown thing as X. Röntgen called it X because it was unknown. You can start by changing the trend. Call unknowns as Y. Best of luck dude.... :-)

curvychick77

@curvychick77 (1084)

• United States

3 May 07

Maybe because X is easier to remember. Remember that X markes the spot, what exactly was or is supposed to be on that spot? It is something unknown, yet something we can remember. It would seem odd if Y marked the spot, for some reason X sounds much more logical. That's how I've always seen it.

1 person likes this

manvik

@manvik (981)

• Hungary

3 May 07

thanks for the reply.Yes you are right.X sounds more logical than Y.I don't know the reason.Thanks again for your intelligent reply.:)

shak143

@shak143 (1280)

• India

3 May 07

You already have answer for this with you.The answer is what you do if you don't know anything i mean which symbol you used to represent i have not done this or this is useless.Obviously "X".So we use X to represent unknown values.

manvik

@manvik (981)

• Hungary

3 May 07

hi thanks for the reply.Thats it.Thats the answer.I put the answer along with the question.thanks again for the reply

howhigh

@howhigh (757)

• Canada

3 May 07

What do you mean.. X is just a name for the unknown that you are trying to define. The term X has no significance but that it is a typical choice for variables in math. If you wanted you could try to solve for Pepe or Chocolate-wagon! Does this answer your question? How long have you been studying math?

manvik

@manvik (981)

• Hungary

3 May 07

Hi thanks for the reply.I studied maths for the last 19 years and I achieved first class in Maths.I am an MA in maths.:)thanks again for the reply.

1 person likes this

howhigh

@howhigh (757)

• Canada

3 May 07

Really so after 19 years you must know the answer.. was this a test or something?