Compelling question, Mark D. I thought about that while I was writing it. The reason I chose "created," i.e., invent, was because people have ten fingers.
It's been my understanding that the reason Humankind uses a base-10 numbering system is because we started counting with our fingers. If we had eight fingers, we'd probably be using the octal system, and you'd get your driver's license at the age of 20 instead of 16, but it would be the same actual age.
An argument could be made that we "discovered" math, but it seems clear that whatever the case, Humans chose to make it their own, organizing it around the hairy digits at the ends of their arms, yes?
Did we invent math or discover it?
Compelling question, Mark D. I thought about that while I was writing it. The reason I chose "created," i.e., invent, was because people have ten fingers.
It's been my understanding that the reason Humankind uses a base-10 numbering system is because we started counting with our fingers. If we had eight fingers, we'd probably be using the octal system, and you'd get your driver's license at the age of 20 instead of 16, but it would be the same actual age.
An argument could be made that we "discovered" math, but it seems clear that whatever the case, Humans chose to make it their own, organizing it around the hairy digits at the ends of their arms, yes?