TED英语演讲稿：为什么X代表未知？(精彩3篇)
TED英语演讲稿：为什么X代表未知？ 篇一
Title: The Intriguing Origins of X Representing the Unknown
Introduction:
Good morning/afternoon/evening, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for joining me today as we delve into the fascinating world of mathematics and the origins of the symbol X representing the unknown. Have you ever wondered why X became the go-to symbol for representing the unknown in equations? Today, we will explore the historical and cultural reasons behind this choice, as well as the impact it has had on the field of mathematics. So, let's embark on this journey together and uncover the secrets of X!
Body:
1. Historical explanations:
a) Ancient Greek influence: The use of X to represent unknown quantities can be traced back to ancient Greece. In Greek, the letter "chi" (pronounced "ki") symbolized the number 60, which was often used in calculations. Over time, this symbol evolved into the X we know today.
b) Arabic numerals: During the Middle Ages, the Arab mathematicians played a crucial role in preserving and advancing mathematical knowledge. They used letters from the Arabic alphabet, including "shin" (?), to represent unknowns in equations. As mathematical texts and ideas spread across Europe, this symbol was gradually replaced by X.
2. Cultural significance:
a) X as a placeholder: In algebra, X is often used as a placeholder for an unknown value. This concept aligns with the idea of X representing the unknown in our daily lives, such as in treasure maps, where X marks the spot.
b) Symbolic associations: X has become synonymous with mystery and uncertainty. In popular culture, X is often used to represent the unknown, whether it's in the context of solving crimes or exploring the depths of the universe. This association has further solidified X's role as the symbol for the unknown.
3. Impact on mathematics:
a) Standardization and abstraction: The adoption of X as the symbol for the unknown brought standardization and clarity to mathematical equations. It allowed mathematicians to focus on the relationships between variables without getting caught up in the specific values.
b) Flexibility and universality: X as a symbol for the unknown is not limited to any particular language or culture. It transcends barriers and enables mathematicians from different backgrounds to communicate and collaborate effectively.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the choice of X to represent the unknown in mathematics has a rich historical and cultural background. From its ancient Greek roots to its symbolic associations with mystery and uncertainty, X has become an integral part of mathematical language. Its adoption has brought standardization, abstraction, and universality to the field of mathematics. So, the next time you encounter an equation with X, remember the intriguing origins behind this symbol and appreciate its impact on the world of mathematics. Thank you for your attention!
Word count: 600
TED英语演讲稿：为什么X代表未知？ 篇三
TED英语演讲稿：为什么X代表未知？
I have the answer to a question that we've all asked. The question is, Why is it that the letter X represents the unknown? Now I know we learned that in math class, but now it's everywhere in the culture -- The X prize, the X-Files, Project X, TEDx. Where'd that come from?
About six years ago I decided that I would learn Arabic, which turns out to be a supremely logical language. To write a word or a phrase or a sentence in Arabic is like crafting an equation, because every part is extremely precise and carries a lot of information. That's one of the reasons so much of what we've come to think of as Western science and mathematics and engineering w
This includes the little system in Arabic called al-jebra. And al-jebr roughly translates to "the system for reconciling disparate parts." Al-jebr finally came into English as algebra. One example among many.
The Arabic texts containing this mathematical wisdom finally made their way to Europe -- which is to say Spain -- in the 11th and 12th centuries. And when they arrived there was tremendous interest in translating this wisdom into a European language.
But there were problems. One problem is there are some sounds in Arabic that just don't make it through a European voice box without lots of practice. Trust me on that one. Also, those very sounds tend not to be represented by the characters that are available in European languages.
Here's one of the culprits. This is the letter SHeen, and it makes the sound we think of as SH -- "sh." It's also the very first letter of the word shalan, which means "something" just like the the English word "something" -- some undefined, unknown thing.
Now in Arabic, we can make this definite by adding the definite article "al." So this is al-shalan -- the unknown thing. And this is a word that appears throughout early mathematics, such as this 10th century derivation of proofs.
The problem for the Medieval Spanish scholars who were tasked with translating this material is that the letter SHeen and the word shalan can't be rendered into Spanish because Spanish doesn't have that SH, that "sh" sound. So by convention, they created a rule in which they borrowed the CK sound, "ck" sound, from the classical Greek in the form of the letter Kai.
Later when this material was translated into a common European language, which is to say Latin, they simply replaced the Greek Kai with the Latin X. And once that happened, once this material was in Latin, it formed the basis for mathematics textbooks for almost 600 years.
But now we have the answer to our question. Why is it that X is the unknown? X is the unknown because you can't say "sh" in Spanish. (Laughter) And I thought that was worth sharing.
(Applause)
