In the slope intercept form (y=mx+b) what does y mean? I understand everything else
1 Answer
"Y" is the "dependent variable". That means it is the response to the independent variable 'x' that we want to know.
Explanation:
Math isn't just about logic or abstractions - it exists primarily to help us understand our universe better and to solve practical problems.
Equations are ways to relate two (or more) things together when they have some correlation. This is particularly useful when trying to figure our or project some different set of conditions or future state from the existing conditions and past history.
"x" and "y" are simply conventions - they could have been called anything else, but we settled on these as the "standard" usage.
In an equation we are looking at what happens to one thing when another thing changes. For example, as the temperature of water changes, are there any changes to the water itself? This knowledge greatly advanced our ability to live more comfortably in various climates, and particularly those with large temperature changes!
So, what is "y" in the equation? It is the thing that we really want to know about - HOW does it change when a change in "x" occurs? In my example, "y" would be the physical state of water and "x" would be the water temperature.
Another common example is the calculation of travel time for a given distance at different rates. WHY take a car instead of walk, or a train instead of a car, or a plane instead of a train? The equation of the change in time with a change in rate can be very helpful! "Y" is the time and "x" is the rate. The distance remains the same.
