ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Miscellaneous Mathematical Symbols-B

Mathematical symbols are like little pictures that tell us something about numbers and calculations. The symbol "b" is a letter that can stand for many different things in math. For example, it can stand for the base of a logarithm or the length of a side of a polygon. It can even be used to represent a constant in an equation. Basically, "b" is just a shorthand way for mathematicians to communicate complex ideas quickly and easily.