Question

Who came up with the convention of naming variables x and y, constants a, b and c (as in the equation y = ax^2 + bx + c), and using random greek letters to make math seem esoteric?

Answer 1

oh and also using i, j, k, and m or n to denote integers

Answer 2

Lol

Answer 3

and using the letter u when applying the chain rule/integration by substitution

Answer 4

Go to bed dude :P

Answer 5

Dont be rude =)

Answer 6

It was a joke :D

Answer 7

I did. It was a rainy afternoon, I was 5 and bored.

I thought to myself: "I know! I'll standardize mathematical notation!"

So I wrote it down with crayon on some very nice linen paper. My mother thought I was crazy, but little did she know.

I posted it on a pin-board at my older brother's display at the science fair, and wouldn't you know it, a visiting professor of mathematics saw it, copied it, published it under his name, and the rest is history.

But now you know the truth.

Answer 8

LOOOOOL

Answer 9

I like to use 't' first while substituting and then 'u'

Answer 10

Nice@James

Answer 11

and now we all know how old does James is ..

Answer 12

but I thought it was some fellow named 'Descartes'

Answer 13

This notation are being used more than 200 years ...

Answer 14

dude there was not single people ..

Answer 15

Descartes Rule of ......something I forgot the name I have a poor memory :(

Answer 16

Change your Memory =/

Answer 17

http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/24241/why-do-mathematicians-use-single-letter-variables

Answer 18

Indeed, there was not a single person. The process for this sort of this is very archaic, but people imitate other people and influential publications, and these things grow up over time.

It's costly to change a convention once it's established in as much as the convention has value and conveys information; if you don't use the convention the then you need to explain your notation more often and the probability that what your writing will be -widely read diminishes.

I'm sure there are several very boring Masters theses and probably even a book or two written about this sort of thing.

Answer 19

Probably written by a fellow named 'Dan Brown' :-D