What Is Mathematics?
To answer the question of whether we invented math, we need to understand what mathematics truly is. Mathematics is a method that helps us perform calculations, from the simplest to the most complex. We can use this method in everything that involves calculations. In a way, mathematics can be compared to a language. Just like we invented spoken language to communicate better, we created math to understand something that has always existed—numbers.
Math as a Language
We didn’t invent numbers or the concept of communication, but we did invent ways to understand and use them. Just as language helps us communicate, math helps us understand and work with numbers. Calculations, sums, and numbers have always been there; math is simply the language we use to make sense of them.
How We Use Mathematics
Mathematics is everywhere in our daily lives. For example, we use math in simple tasks like adding 100 grams of tomatoes when cooking. We also use it in complex fields like economics, where calculations involve additions, subtractions, and even more advanced operations. There’s a saying: “music is mathematics,” which highlights how even rhythm in music is based on mathematical principles.
The Importance of Learning Math
One of the main reasons math is taught in schools is that we use it every day, often without even realizing it. Whether we’re aware of it or not, we subconsciously apply math in many day-to-day activities. From measuring ingredients in the kitchen to working with computers, mathematics is essential in almost everything we do.
Did We Invent Math?
So, did we invent math? In a way, yes. We invented the language of math to help us understand and use the numbers and calculations that already existed. Our society, lifestyle, and even our progress as humans rely on this language called mathematics. It helps us understand the world around us.
A Thought Experiment
Imagine if society had developed based on emotional intelligence instead of math and science. Today, our world is built on facts and mathematical logic. But what if, instead, engineers and other experts had focused their efforts on emotional intelligence? How different would our society look?