Does anyone know the meaning of the m in y = mx + b? The classic equation of a straight line function. Why m and not a or s? Slope is the usual term, although sometimes it is called something else. Why the letter m in most of the textbooks?
A guess might be m representing to metron from Greek, possibly something Pythagorean, meaning the measure, but that is just a guess. Did Isaac Newton originate the m, or is it older?
The concept of graphing was developed by Rene DeCartes, but is called Cartesian System because his nom de plume was Cartius -- he wrote in latin as did all scholars of the day. the "m" is m for monter, french for to climb (mountains). The b is because polynomials use the coefficients ax^n, bx^n-1, etc. In the Slope-intercept form m is the slope and the usual "a" woldn't carry the meaning.
OK, you got me.