Thinking of x as an intermediate/variable in the construction of polynomial rings is, I think, an imprecise approach.

Instead we must see that what is important is the property that x can be replaced by any "value". I think this is how one should proceed: 1. We freeze a commutative ring R. 2. Let A be a commutative R-Algebra with an identified/specified element, "a". 3. Define: The "ordered pair" (A, "a") is a FREE abelian/commutative R- algebra generated by "a" iff for each "pair" (B,"b") there exists a unique "R-algebra homomorphism" "f" such that f: A B with f(a)=b. 4. Theorem: There is at most one (of course up to isomorphism) FREE abelian/commutative R-algebra with one generator. 5. Proof: Trivial. 6. Regarding existence of "The Object (A,a)". The construction may be done as follows: 1. Start with a commutative ring R with "1" 2. Look at all R- valued maps on {0}u{Z+} with only finite number of non-zero (Zero being the R additive id) values and call it D. 3. Introduce "component-wise addition on D. 4. Introduce usual polynomial type multiplication of values as multiplication of maps" on D (based on the fact that there are only finitely many non- zero values assumed by each map and that any map is completely determined by the values it assumes). 5. Check that D is indeed a commutative R- algebra with a specified element, g. (How do the elements of D look like?). 6. The members of this R-algebra, D, are finite linear combinations of the type: rx(powers of g), where the r's are from R (WHY?). So, now if any other R-algebra (B, b) is given, then we can define an R-algebra isomorphism, i : (D,g) (B,b) as: i(rx(powers of g)) = rx(powers of b).

7.

8.

Check that this is well defined and "the only one" R-algebra g to b.

homorphism which maps

What is the moral of the story? The moral is: 1. 2. 3. 4. That the "object" (A,a), exists and, The specified element, "a", can be "moved about" anywhere in R, and, Fixing the image of "a" completely determines "f". Now if we replace A with our usual R[X] and "a" with our usual "x" homomorphism is simply a substitution. the r-algebra

This is an example of a "universal construction" in the sense that now we may talk about the "Category of objects (A, a) with the R-algebra homomorphisms playing the role of "category morphisms". These objects, therefore, are universal objects with respect to the unique R-algebra homomorphism property. I think this removes the imprecision regarding the notion of variable/intermediate the domain of its existence. Think on these lines.