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"does mathematics is only a game with symbols"?
I don't understand that.
Here might be an answer to the question that is usually asked in a manner like that.
Mathematics is not *only* a game with symbols. It is, as you like WIttgenstein, a language-game, perhaps. It is done in essence by the manipulation of symbols. Either on paper or in your head. How does one solve 2x=5? Divide by 5; x=2/5, but what do we mean by 2/5? It is that fraction that when multiplied by 5 yields 2. We don't need to explicitly state that as we've put it in a form that any reasonable person can agree with. Of course, I'm assuming the question was asked with the real numbers, or at least the rationals in mind. In mod 7 arithmetic the answer is of course x=6.
In Euclidean geometry a point is that which has neither length nor breadth.
What kind of point are you referring to?
I don't understand that.
Here might be an answer to the question that is usually asked in a manner like that.
Mathematics is not *only* a game with symbols. It is, as you like WIttgenstein, a language-game, perhaps. It is done in essence by the manipulation of symbols. Either on paper or in your head. How does one solve 2x=5? Divide by 5; x=2/5, but what do we mean by 2/5? It is that fraction that when multiplied by 5 yields 2. We don't need to explicitly state that as we've put it in a form that any reasonable person can agree with. Of course, I'm assuming the question was asked with the real numbers, or at least the rationals in mind. In mod 7 arithmetic the answer is of course x=6.
In Euclidean geometry a point is that which has neither length nor breadth.
What kind of point are you referring to?