The letter X is altogether unnecessary in phonics, and rarely does a word begin with it. But we keep it around because we like it. We end a lot of words with X, and when it's "ex," we begin words with it all the time. It's used to indicate something is wrong in schoolwork. People who can't write their names use an X as a signature. Elon Musk uses it for everything. We leverage its meaning as an unknown with titles such as The X-Files and X-Men and phrases such as "X factor." It's the mathematical use of X for an unknown that lends intrigue to the letter. But how did X become the algebraic symbol for the unknown?
There are several theories for this use of X. Civilizations developed mathematics, geometry, and algebra used different stand-in words for the unknown. Multiple translations may have led the Arabic al-shayun, which means "something," to become an X. These translation stories take different paths. Or it could have been a good supply of the letter X at a printing firm. Read about the different stories of how we got the mathematical X at The Conversation. -via Smithsonian
(Image credit: Lisa Williams)
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u know whats a better name for a social platform than X? Twitter.
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