Thursday, April 28, 2016

X is for X


X is for X, the unknown variable

The other day Miss Landers was telling me about something she thought was really interesting. She had heard an explanation about how the unknown variable in algebra became symbolized by the letter X. She told me just enough to confuse me but also pique my interest. (Yes, we may be a little nerdy here.)

After poking around, I found a TED talk by Terry Moore that I think Miss Landers had heard.
In the talk, Moore explained algebra was developed by the Arabs, and in the original algebra text, the variables were called unknown things and that word started with the sh sound. Algebra made it to Spain and when the Moors translated it to Spanish, the sh sound became the ck because they had no sh sound. That was represented by the Greek chi, which was represented by X and later a small x in Latin. Or something like that.

While this is a nice theory, there are other opinions. First, others contend that there is no proof for the phonetic switch idea. They propose that the x symbol comes from DesCartes and his use of letters from the beginning of the alphabet (a,b,c) for known variables and letters at the end of the alphabet (x,y,z)  for unknown variables. And as time went on and more things were printed, typesetters found it easier to use the x instead of y and z. Or something like that.

So if you haven't gone to sleep yet with these explanations on a topic that you aren't interested in, here's the part I found interesting. For some reason, even though I knew that x was used as the unknown as algebra, I never connected it as representing the unknown in other things.

For example:
x-rays-- Roentgen didn't know what he had, so he called them x rays
Malcomb X-- calls himself that for all of his unknown ancestors from Africa
X Files--They worked on strange cases with unknown origins

So I had a light bulb moment with this, and I'm going to put my new awareness to good use. I think dinner tonight will be known as Dinner X. :)


18 comments:

  1. That is interesting and when you relate the X, as an unknown, to X-rays (always wondered why they were called that), Malcolm X and X-files---very interesting!!!

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    1. I found it interesting, and I'm glad you did to.

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  2. Very interesting! For me, X=Y, in that I have no idea what I'm going to write about for Y tomorrow.
    @RhondaGilmour from
    Late Blooming Rose

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    1. I hear you on the X=Y. But we're almost to the end. You can do it and I guess I can to.

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  3. I like the part about X being an unknown in words/concepts other than algebra. Language and its evolution always interests me.

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    1. Did you study Latin? The origin of so many of our words.

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    2. Not formally, no, but I did take medical terminology, which has many Latin roots.

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  4. Ooohh! Talk Nerdy to me! I love this post!

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    1. You know, there's more where that came from. I've not revealed my true nerdiness yet on this blog. Maybe I'll turn it up a notch.

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  6. A fascinating choice of topic for the tricky letter X and I learned a lot from your post.

    Family History Fun

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    1. X is a very tricky letter. I'll have to hop on over and see what you did with your X.

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  7. Fascinating information. I particularly like the part about typesetting. And I love TED talks. Next time my husband asks what's for dinner, I'm saying "X." Glenda from
    Evolving English Teacher

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    1. I like TED talks also. However, I've only ever listened to them on NPR. I'm gonna have to start watching more of them. Unfortunately, we have dinner x a lot around here.

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  8. "Dinner X" is often followed by "Evening X" or sometimes "Weekend X." Actually, I sometimes have days of "Work X," today being one of them.

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    1. Great potential to apply this X concept, isn't there?

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  9. It was fascinating, thank you so much for sharing. I hate math, but years ago I read a book about the history of zero (I think it was indeed called "The History of Zero") that was equally as fascinating. I laughed at "Dinner X", hahaha. Very clever :)

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    1. I don't remember much of it now, but I read that book also and liked it. Maybe I'll add it again to my much too big reading list.

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