When did mathematicians begin to use the letter x to denote unknown values ? Gérard Lang
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3$\begingroup$ Have a look at this ted.com/talks/terry_moore_why_is_x_the_unknown?language=en $\endgroup$– Amir AsghariCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 8:54
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5$\begingroup$ ...or don't. Florian Cajori's book "A history of mathematical notations" goes to great detail to explain how such popular theories came to be and how they are essentially not supported by any evidence. As far as the earliest documented use, it goes back to Descartes, who simultaneously introduced y and z (and a,b,c) to denote unknowns. (pages 380-383 in Cajori's book) $\endgroup$– Gjergji ZaimiCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 9:06
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5$\begingroup$ mathoverflow.net/questions/104031/… $\endgroup$– Carlo BeenakkerCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 9:08
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2$\begingroup$ mathoverflow.net/q/30307/461 $\endgroup$– Pierre-Yves GaillardCommented Oct 14, 2015 at 9:49
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