Final answer:
In mathematics, 'y is a function of x' means that for every value of x, there exists a unique value of y.
Step-by-step explanation:
In mathematics, the phrase 'y is a function of x' means that for every value of x, there exists a unique value of y. This implies that there is a specific relationship or rule that determines the value of y based on the value of x.
For example, consider the linear equation y = mx + b. In this equation, x is the independent variable and y is the dependent variable. For each value of x that you input, the equation will give you a corresponding unique value of y.
Therefore, the correct answer is option (a) For every value of x, there exists a unique value of y.