document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=144225>Question 144225</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> What is an X in algebra symbols? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #105161 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nabla><B>nabla(475)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nabla><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=105161\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x is one of many \"unknowns\" that we use to represent a quantity that varies, or to indicate a number that we would like to find.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Consider:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+1=3\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What plus one makes three? In this case x stands for a number that solves this equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now consider:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(x)=x^2-1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What this equation describes is the relationship between one unknown that can change to give another quantity that depends on it. So if we take f(2) we will find 2^2-1=3. So an x value at 2 gives a y value of 3. You could say x serves to describe what happens to the other quantity. </SPAN>\n" );
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