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Math. Ah, who even likes Maths, right? Where in the world are we ever going to use those formulas and equations? Look at him—he’s doing just fine without ever solving for x.
I used to think like that. But not anymore. Over time, I’ve met people from all walks of life who not only use maths but absolutely love it. I’ve realised that people who hate maths simply don’t understand it. It’s like that quiet kid in the class—seemingly unapproachable until you get to know them. Or like that one thing you’ve always wanted to do but held back because of fear. Once you dive in and come to understand maths, it’s not so scary. In fact, the more you learn, the more you might just fall in love with it. Why? Because there’s so much we can do with it.
Math Is Everywhere
We often fail to notice it, but maths is everywhere. It’s how our phones work, how the internet operates—it’s the backbone of cryptocurrency. Maths helps us predict how diseases spread and powers the algorithms behind your favourite ads (yes, your phone really does know you better than you think). It’s how casinos thrive, how planes fly, and even how ticketing systems work.
Maths is the silent engine behind countless modern miracles.
But Math Is Nowhere
We often fail to notice it, but math is everywhere. It’s how our phones work, how the internet operates—it’s the backbone of cryptocurrency. Math helps us predict how diseases spread and powers the algorithms behind your favorite ads (yes, your phone really does know you better than you think). It’s how casinos thrive, how planes fly, and even how ticketing systems work.
Math is the silent engine behind countless modern miracles.
And yet, from another perspective, math is nowhere. You can’t touch it or feel it. It’s not something you can taste or smell. It doesn’t exist in a tangible way. Yet, when we look around—whether it’s the vastness of space or the intricate workings of an atom—nature seems to follow mathematical laws. The sunrise, planetary orbits, galaxies, and even subatomic particles operate with precise mathematical principles.
These laws existed long before Newton was hit on the head by an apple or Einstein turned matter into energy with E=mc².
So, where did all this arithmetic, algebra, and calculus come from? And what about the so-called “most beautiful equation” in maths?
The answer is us. More specifically, humans—those brilliantttt, curiousssss creatures we call mathematicians. They didn’t just stumble upon maths; they invented it. Or, depending on how you look at it, they discovered it. And they haven’t stopped. Even now, at this very moment, someone somewhere is crafting new mathematics.
This pursuit is ancient. Just look at the pyramids—built thousands of years ago with such mathematical precision that they continue to baffle us. The Mesopotamians, pioneers of many mathematical concepts, might have inspired the Egyptians. And even before that, the Indus Valley civilisation—renowned for its urban planning and democracy maybe it was their maths which started it all.
So how one actually does invent math?
Or even before that what actually is math?
What Even Is Maths?
Remember those schoolbook definitions? “Biology is the study of living things.” Well, here’s one for maths:
Maths is the study of finding definite answers.
In life, many questions don’t have definite answers:
Who will win the election?
What’s the best car in the world?
Why is my spouse angry with me?
Should ketchup go on fries or on the side?
No matter what you say, uncertainty always lingers. Even in other sciences, no matter how precise, there’s always a tiny margin of error—a whisper of doubt. Always 99.99% effective.
But not in math.
In math, there are definite answers. If I draw a circle, the angle between its radius and tangent will always be 90 degrees. No matter the circle’s size, if I divide its circumference by its diameter, the answer is always the same: pi, 3.142… (and so on).
The Certainty of Maths
In maths, every question has a definitive truth. We ask questions, observe the world, and seek answers. We yearn to understand how everything works and give it meaning, so we can use it to our advantage.
The tools maths provides us have applications everywhere—biology, technology, sociology, philosophy, and, honestly, every other “-ology” and “-ical” you can think of.
So, whether you love maths or loathe it, there’s no escaping it. The more you embrace it, the more you’ll realise that maths isn’t just about numbers—it’s about understanding the world, the universe, and, ultimately, US.
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