# High school math definition of a variable: the first step from the concrete into the abstract…

variable: A symbol used to represent one or more numbers.

High school students are justifiably confused by the two distinct concepts:

1. a variable as something that “varies” in an expression, such as the h in the expression $4.50\cdot h$; and
2. an unknown quantity that is a "specific unknown” in an equation

The definition of a variable as being a symbol used to represent both of these cases explicitly states this as: “a symbol used to represent one or more numbers.” Where the “one number” case is the “specific unknown” in a simple equation, such as $18.00=4.50\cdot h\;$ where the $h$ can only represent the one number $4$ to turn the open sentence into a true statement.

The more than one number case being the letter h standing for values in a table such as: $1, 2, 3,\>$ or $4$ being substituted into an equation to form a pattern such as $C=4.50\cdot h$, the definition of a variable now being interpreted as a symbol, h, used to represent one number when that number is substituted in for it and a symbol used to represent more than one number when other numbers are substituted in for it. Thus generating a table of values of $C$ such as: $4.50, 9.00, 13.50,\>$ and $18.00$.

Another example, the variable, say x, in the quadratic equation represents a parabola when it "varies" over a given domain. But the variable in the equation $0=x^2+2x+1$ is "an unknown quantity. It does not vary." Thus, in this case the vari-able has lost its ability to "vary." Yet in both situations they are referred to as a variable, and this duality is embodied in the definition of a variable as "a symbol used to represent one or more numbers." Could the motivation behind this definition be such that we don't have to make the distinction between an "unknown specific quantity" and a "varying" quantity?

Does anyone agree that the above argument has been logically developed or is there some flaw in my reasoning? Thank you.

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Osborn's law states that variables won't, constants aren't. – Ross Millikan Apr 10 '12 at 13:17
@RossMillikan Variables that won't vary, or constants that aren't constant, sounds like contradictions that is not contradictory, or oxymorons that aren't oxymoronic. – Sᴋᴜʟʟ ᴘᴇᴛʀᴏʟ Apr 12 '12 at 16:33

The duality embodied in the definition of a variable as:

"A symbol used to represent one or more numbers."

Is such that we don't have to make the distinction between an "unknown specific quantity" and a "varying" quantity.

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I don't like the word "variable" in math. When we're solving an equation, $x$ is nothing more than the name of a number whose value we do not yet know, $x$ is not in any sense "variable". It's not as if the value of $x$ can change.

And if we are defining a function $f$, we might say something like, if $x$ is a number, then $f(x) = x^2 + 7$ . Even here $x$ is not "variable". We are just saying that if $x$ is a (specific) number, then $f(x)$ is the number $x^2 + 7$.

Now, in computer programming, you have variables whose value can actually change. That's different.

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There probably should be a strict distinction made between variables and constants. For example in a quadratic equation $f(x) = Ax^2+Bx+C,$ the letters $A,B$, and $C$ are constants in the sense that they are standing in for specific values. The variable in the equation (rather the independent variable) is $x$. The dependent variable is $y=f(x)$. This equation, which represents a parabola, is different than $0 =Ax^2+Bx+C$. Here $A$, $B$, and $C$ still represent constants, but $x$ is an unknown quantity. It does not vary. Still the nature of the solution set to that equation varies if the values of the constants $A$, $B$, and $C$ vary.

To say that the constants may vary'' does sound oxymoronic and counter-intuitive. I am sure that we all are guilty of having uttered such a sentence. One point of algebraic expressions is that any of the letters may be considered as a variable. Once specific values are chosen, the express becomes more definite. Indeed, all algebraic laws (at the level of high school mathematics) can be considered to be universal truths about the expression for any specific values of the variables.

I am sure that there are other real-word instances of such ambiguity in the language.

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Thank you I appreciate your response to my question. The variable, x, in the quadratic equation represents a parabola when it "varies" over a given domain. But the variable in the equation $0 = x^2 + 2x + 1$ is, as you said "an unknown quantity. It does not vary." Yet in both situations they are referred to as a variable, and this duality is embodied in the definition of a variable as "a symbol used to represent one or more numbers." Could the motivation behind this definition be such that we don't have to make the distinction between an "unknown specific quantity" and a "varying" quantity? – Sᴋᴜʟʟ ᴘᴇᴛʀᴏʟ Apr 6 '12 at 12:33

First expression has only one variable which is h and it is fixed.

Second expression has two variables which are h and C. Here h and C are depended from one another. values of h will be changed when values of C change or values of C will be changed when values of h change. That's why h and C have so many values.

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It's a philosophical question. So far I have never met a mathematically hard definition of the notion of "variable", as it is used in analysis ("free" and "bound" variables in logic are another matter). Here are some musings on the theme:

Given any set $S$ and any symbol or letter $x$ one can declare $x$ as a variable with values in $S$. In a typical mathematical discourse there are various sets $S_i$ around and associated variables $x_{i,k}$ taking values in $S_i$. Furthermore one considers equations (or relations) among the $x_{i,k}$ which make the values of some of them dependent on the values of others, or force some of the $x_{i,k}$ to assume values in a particular subset of $S_i$, or create some other "dependency" among the $x_{i,k}$. There may also be a ranking among the occurring $x_{i,k}$ where some of them are "less variable" than others. The former are called parameters of an instance of the considered problem, the later are called variables or unknowns, depending on the intended interpretation.

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