Long variable names: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Ambiguities]]
[[Category:Ambiguities]]
[[Category:Unpleasantness]]
[[Category:Unpleasantness]]
[[Category:Variable Names]]


Mathematicians normally stick to single-letter variable names. But when they don't, it can be hard to tell if there's a [[missing multiplication symbol]] or not.
Mathematicians normally stick to single-letter variable names. But when they don't, it can be hard to tell if there's a [[missing multiplication symbol]] or not.
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\[ x \text{speed} \]
\[ x \text{speed} \]
==Why?==
<ref>[https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/24241/why-do-mathematicians-use-single-letter-variables Why do mathematicians use single-letter variables?] on math.stackexchange.com</ref>

Latest revision as of 16:07, 12 July 2021


Mathematicians normally stick to single-letter variable names. But when they don't, it can be hard to tell if there's a missing multiplication symbol or not.

Some people use an upright font for long variable names to distinguish them from single-letter variable names, drawn in italics (see Use of different typefaces to convey meaning)

Examples

\[ speed = distance \div time \]

\[ \text{speed} = \text{distance} \div \text{time} \]

Is it OK to mix single-letter variable names and longer ones?

\[ x \text{speed} \]

Why?

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