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Name: Unknown
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1993
Question:
I am looking for origin of the use of "m" for slope in the "y=mx+b" form of, a linear equation. While you are at it perhapsexplains why the "b" was used for the y-coordinate of the y-intercept. I am of the opinion that "m" was used by Descartes for montee, i.e. "going up". Any justification for that opinion?


Replies:
I am trying to find your answer in a book called History of Mathematics, but I am still looking for the answer (it is a very thick book). I will try to find it soon, but you may want to check your local library for any book relating to the history of math. You would be surprised by how many are out there.

Unknown


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