- #1
C0nfused
- 139
- 0
Hi everybody,
Is there any exact definition of numbers? I mean, what is a number? What are the symbols "0","1",2",...,"9" and what do they mean? Natural numbers are actually cardinals? And how do we define cardinals and ordinals? I keep asking about naturals because we started from them right?
NOTE: I have used numbers during my whole life. But although it seem that I have understood what they are and , of course use them almost mechanically, I haven't come across an exact definition (if there is any) of them. I have read some things about the Peano axioms but it wasn't very clear(it was a brief description of them) so I haven't found the answer yet
Is there any exact definition of numbers? I mean, what is a number? What are the symbols "0","1",2",...,"9" and what do they mean? Natural numbers are actually cardinals? And how do we define cardinals and ordinals? I keep asking about naturals because we started from them right?
NOTE: I have used numbers during my whole life. But although it seem that I have understood what they are and , of course use them almost mechanically, I haven't come across an exact definition (if there is any) of them. I have read some things about the Peano axioms but it wasn't very clear(it was a brief description of them) so I haven't found the answer yet