The Conversation

Curious Kids: how was maths discovered? Who made up the numbers and rules?

Author: Linda Galligan, Associate professor, University of Southern Queensland

There are so many number systems! The ones you know now were developed over centuries but we are still making up more now. Shutterstock

If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au.

How was maths discovered? Who made up the numbers and rules? – Bianca, age 12, Strathfield, Sydney.

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