2007-05-28 09:23:39 · 7 answers · asked by Nimbot 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Numbers traditionally refer to quantities or values. Quantities existed before we attached names to them. There were, for example, two rocks before we called them rocks or before we attached the label "two" to how many there were. And if there are two rocks and I put another one with them, there are three of them whether we called the quantity three or not. If somebody took the three rocks away leaving no rocks, there were zero rocks regardless what we called it... or didn't call it.
Gradually we've morphed the need to consider numbers as so many things, into the the idea that they are just ideas. The concepts of negative numbers existed before there was a need to consider them. The properties of complex numbers existed before we discovered that they're really a superset of the reals.
Attaching names and symbols to quantities might have evolved as an expedient to using them. "This many" and "that many" make "this many" isn't very precise.
The rules governing the manipulation of numbers always existed. I'd say those too were discovered... and are being discovered.
Applications and algorithms for using numbers are always being developed. But the concepts have to obey the rules inherent in the manipulation of numbers.
I guess I'd have to say we only invented the names to call the numbers and the rules by which we manipulate them. Everything else seems to fall under the definition of discovery.
2007-05-28 09:44:23 · answer #1 · answered by gugliamo00 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel that numbers were invented. We use a number system based on the number ten (an English word that someone made up based on the Latin word deca) 1, 10, 100, 1000 etc. Some cultures use a number system based on other variables (3, 5) Although the deca system is always used in higher math functions, it is not the only number system used.
Counting is an ability. The words (one, two, three) are invented.
2007-05-28 09:38:00 · answer #2 · answered by euphtech 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aliens invented numbers and left them on Earth. We later came and discovered them.
2007-05-28 10:19:03 · answer #3 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would say that mankind DISCOVERED numbers... but it took the Arabs to INVENT the ZERO... at least I think it was the Arabs... I have also heard it was the Greeks and the Mayans... but... the INVENTION of the concept of ZERO is what gave Math it's ability to solve problems.
2007-05-28 09:31:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans? invent the concept of numbers etc...theories...etc.
2007-05-28 09:32:24 · answer #5 · answered by decoyname4t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think we discovered them
2007-05-28 09:30:56 · answer #6 · answered by Robin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both!
2007-05-28 09:30:16 · answer #7 · answered by knashha 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋