Find "X"

This is a creative essay, part of my 2017 college application to UChicago. Essay topic inspired by Benjamin Nuzzo, an admitted student from Eton College, UK.

Sure. Let's find it.

So, Where do we start? Since this is strictly an unilateral conversation I am taking the liberty to set the bases from where we are going to find it.

First we need to deconstruct the idea of “X”, so we agree on what we are really looking for, or more appropriate, what we are not looking for. “X” is unknown to almost all math problems, since not all math problems are the same (because how boring would that be?), “X” is always changing to fit whatever amount is required from it in order to make the problem true. Because of this we cannot totally find “X” using size, value, length, power, or anything using quantitative properties.

Ok, now we are advancing, “X” is also a letter from a latin-script alphabet, it is number 24 in the english alphabet (Curiously it is the 25th in the spanish alphabet, because “Ñ”). 24 and 25 both in a way mean “X”. 10 is also the numerical value of “X” according to our good and smart friends The Romans. Although, We have a problem here, cardinal numbers are by essence quantitative, and as we agreed in the previous paragraph, quantitative answers are incomplete.

Quickly, just to get it out of the way as well, since “X” appears in many, many, many languages (English, Spanish, Nahuatl, Latin, Apache, Polish… well, you get the idea) we also can´t use its phonetics as a base.

Moving forward to square one, then.

Since quantitative approaches are out of the picture, and qualitatives properties doesn't seem right, at least to me, but again this is an unilateral discussion, so qualitative approaches are out of the picture as well.

Let's find a philosophical answer, then. Although I love philosophy, and I find inspiration in philosophical dilemmas, I have no authority on the subject. This goes without saying, it totally should be taken with a grain of salt.

“X” in math represents something that is unknown, uncertain, that in any conceivable way one would need to work to know what is unknown, the amount of work is relative to the problem, therefore, it is irrelevant here. It, in a case or two (or one million cases, you know) also represents a constant, meaning whatever it means is unchangeable, it can't ever be touched as long as that little universe (yes, universes are infinite, but thanks to Cantor we know the sizes of infinities can vary) where the problem is true exists.

“X” phonetics as “Ex”, as a former paramore represents chaos, sadness, sorrow, pain and so on.

Hold on a second, I am finding that “X” means all of those things while it doesn't. Everything I have written from the first line on to the previous one, operates assuming “X” means something, anything, but it doesn't. Every single thing mentioned here: math, phonetics, philosophy, and even love are human-made concepts; well of course they are, I am using language, a human-made tool to find a human-made concept. We believe that “X” can be found because we decided that “X” could be found.

What if we decide that “X” can´t be found? Is that a valid answer? Could that provide resolution the same way the fact that “X” means something, where at the same time it doesn't makes sense to us?

One last time, strictly unilateral conversation. So, yes. “X”, just like names, things, and concepts in our universe, is an axiom. I can decide that it means whatever I want, the same way math shapes its value from problem to problem to satisfy its needs and make the line of math true. And I can decide it not because any authority I hold, just because of my position as a rational being. Whatever I decide is not absolute, much less a law, but it is not less true than calling a “chair” a chair, or a “cup of coffee” a cup of coffee.

I just found the nature of “X” as an axiom, hence I just found “X”.

Yes, just because I say it.