2006-11-17 13:36:05 · 9 answers · asked by Dante 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
There would be two schools of thought there; The first being that maths is logic, there can be no invention by definition of logic. The second being that mathematics is, if you will, only the language invented by humankind in order to utilise the discovery of intrinsic logic. E.g.; something is the opposite of nothing. Something as well as something are somethings. The real Question is; which came first? (We'll tolerate neither chicken nor egg jokes from the peanut gallery thnx)
2006-11-17 13:58:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am of the opinion that math was discovered. There are multiple instances of math in nature (The Fibionacci series of numbers in plant petals). Also, math helps with record keeping. Can you imagine how to keep track of how many sheep you now have when you just bought a whole bunch of sheep (addition) or when you've sold some (subtraction). The transaction of goods, even just monetary is numbers. As humans realized the need to order the creation more and more, math became more and more neccasary, therefore more was discovered. Sorry for soliliquying.
2006-11-17 21:42:58 · answer #2 · answered by R. D 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since math only describes the universe, we always say that mathematics was discovered. We haven't really invented anything new. Even if you look around in technology, engineering, electronics, physics, and chemistry, mankind has never invented anything original. All we do is change the form of one thing into another.
2006-11-17 22:27:29 · answer #3 · answered by The Prince 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You have the wrong tense. 'Is' mathematics discovered or invented? It is still being discovered.
Techniques are invented. But the underlying patterns are there to be discovered.
2006-11-18 00:20:24 · answer #4 · answered by MathGuy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just depends on the pov.
If math is the mechanism for moving & noting the abstract concept of numericality, then it was invented.
If someone wants to argue that numbers existed before there was math to count them, then it was discovered, although quite frankly, I wouldn't touch that second one.....
;-)
2006-11-17 21:47:23 · answer #5 · answered by WikiJo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Geometry and counts have always existed in universe, we got smart to see them, so It was discovered.
2006-11-17 21:40:45 · answer #6 · answered by chuma_me 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
neither,
scientists discover; engineers invent
mathematicians ??? -- they play the music that nature understand
2006-11-17 21:58:29 · answer #7 · answered by oracle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither, it has always been there as long as there was something to calculate.
2006-11-17 21:55:56 · answer #8 · answered by lavender tots 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A little of both.
2006-11-17 21:38:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋