One’s own work

Submitted by, Submitted to,

Anchulekshmi.A.R

Mathematics

Reg No:18014350002 Prinsamma.K.George

Submitted on,

01/10/2015

Was mathematics discovered or invented

A question that has baffled scientists for centuries, a question whose answer

doesn’t seem quite straight forward- was mathematics discovered or invented? In

this Baffle article, we have tried to shed light on whether math is an invention or

discovery…..

It is mathematics that offers the exact natural sciences a certain measures of

security which, without mathematics, they could not attain-Albert Einstein

Invention or discovery?

Mathematics was always present in nature, waiting to be discovered. In fact,

it is present everywhere in the universe. But math, as a subject, is dreaded and

scary for many. Even thinking about calculations, theorems, algebra, geometry,

permutations and combinations gives goose bumps to some people.

Mathematics as a science is not a discovery by a single person. It is a joint

effort which was started by the Babylonians and Egyptians, way back in 3000 BC.

There are important contributions from the Greeks, Indians and others, which have

helped develop mathematical concepts, abstracts, formulae, etc. The discovery of

various constants, laws and theorems is based on the invention of the numerical

system. All of these numbers give physics, chemistry and all the other sciences a

much-needed back bone, which supports and gives them a definite measure.

Why is it a Discovery?

The concepts of mathematics have always been in nature. The shapes,

symmetry, sizes and quantities, have always been an integral part of natural

phenomenon. The symmetry, shapes, Fibonacci sequence, all the above mentioned

phenomena are an integral part of the universe, and of mathematics as well. We

have just discovered these phenomena and named them. However, there are a few

inventions that took place which helped develop mathematics as a science.

Some inventions in mathematics

After the beginning of trade in ancient time, a need for counting was

developed. The human hand was the first device used to count the number of

quantities. After the number ten, rocks, pebbles, shells or other natural markers

were used to count. Many, few, nothing, infinite etc are associated with the

counting of terms in mathematics. Before the advent of the numerical system, these

were the terms that described quantities. Then developed the Hindu- Arabic

numerical system, which gave rise to abacus and accounting

The invention of the numerical system greatly advanced and developed

mathematics. Eminent mathematicians like Euclid, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Plato

etc built up mathematics as a concept. Various geometrical theorems, algebraic

concepts and formulae, differential integration and calculations, logarithms,

decimal point, graphical representation geometrical instruments like the protractor

or Euler, digital languages, and mathematical signs were invented, which helped

mathematics scale new heights and evolve as a science.