Is mathematics created or discovered?

One argument for “Team Discovered” goes as follows: There are a set of numbers that seem intrinsic to the world, so linked to other important sequences, that they seem to hold an almost spiritual significance. These numbers are those whose proper divisors (i.e. all the positive divisors excluding itself) sum to the original number. These are the aptly named Perfect Numbers.

For more on this subject, check out this week’s article at the HLFF Blog by Sophie Maclean: HLFF Blog

Image caption: Portrait of Leonhard Euler Image credits: public domain


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