{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgrammar-girl.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2F1144-cX__Lb5N","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"The origin of X in algebra. Why we say ‘how come’ for ‘why.’ Water handles. ","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/6e27cc4d-f23d-4983-b80a-3f34562d91a7/af5d9062-8dec-4a08-9fec-b382da823e22/gg-20interview-20show-20mock-20up-20art-20-58.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/a3e1067a-682d-432b-9586-d2641881ee9a\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"The origin of X in algebra. Why we say ‘how come’ for ‘why.’ Water handles. \" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"1144. This week, we look at the origin of the letter X as the variable for the unknown in algebra. Then, we look at the phrase \"how come,\" explaining why it's more informal than \"why\" and how its grammar subtly differs from other question words."}