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Athematics Begins with Inequality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2016

R. C. H. Tanner
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Extract

“First books” on mathematics usually begin with numbers. Some histories of mathematics say in so many words. Mathematics begins with numeration. I believe this is true, literally, if mathematics is considered as a set of signs, with rules and relations between them. That is to say: the history of mathematical notation does begin with the numerals. The earliest known mathematical signs are no doubt number-signs, and history of mathematical notation has in fact little else to discuss but numerals up to the 14th century of our era. Of present-day mathematical signs, + and - appeared first in the 15th century, = in the 16th, <and> in the 17th.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Mathematical Gazette , Volume 45 , Issue 354 , December 1961 , pp. 292 - 294
Copyright
Copyright © Mathematical Association 1961

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References

* Linear equations can, infinite series pretend to, set theory substitutes inclusion to inequality. Order and inequality coincide. “Mathematics begins with order”.