Why is mathematics considered the "universal" language?

Question

If an alien were to land, and someone were to hand it a chalkboard reading "2+2=4", what are the chances our extraterrestrial friend would understand the concept of numbers at all, let alone arabic numerals?

Answer 1

One object + one object will always = 2. If our understanding of mathematics is correct, and logic suggests that it is, then the higher levels of math needed to advance civilization will also hold true. Ultimately, there will be a common "language" for the exchange of information. It may not convey qualitative or subjective information, but it's a starting point.

Answer 2

1. Mathematics truths are irrespective of spoken dialect.

2. You can always demonstrate the basics of math using objects.

3. Aside from music and spoken word, math tables and star guides have been included on spacecraft intended to exit our solar system, in case some beings beyond would find them.

4. A good demonstration is in the movie "Contact" where the life forms trying to contact us used tonal bursts that corresponded to prime numbers as an indicator of something other than random noise.

Answer 3

It is because 2+2 will always be 4 in any part of the universe .

Answer 4

Because mathematics is not language dependent. It expresses in universally acceptable symbols the "model" of everything. So it makes no difference if your language is English, French, German, or what ever, the math of anything is universally understood.

Answer 5

He wouldn't know arabic numerals, but if you put two golfballs down and wrote 2 under it, and put two with it and wrote 4, he'd understand. Languages have different syntaxes and forms and even a single word can have several definitions.

Answer 6

Something like 1+2=3 is true going in to a black hole, or in a nebula. It is true in the Andromeda galaxy or the milky way. It is true on mars or here on earth. It is true through out the entire universe.