Numbers from opinion polls are frequently discussed in the news. Political candidates throw around numbers to justify the programs they wish to initiate. If consumers want to make a purchase, they almost always check the price. Whether buying a car, following a recipe, or decorating a home, humans use mathematics every day.

Math can help people shop wisely, buy the right insurance, remodel a home within a budget, understand population growth, or even bet on the horse with the best chance of winning the race. If a scientist or an academic researcher wants to prove a hypothesis, she or he almost always uses the statistical analysis of numbers. Qualitative research is held in a much lower position than quantitative research. Why is this phenomenon of numbers so prevalent in our society? Where did it come from?

A Look Back

The origin of our decimal...