How Writing Changes Mathematical Thought | Quanta Magazine

David E. Dunning explores how mathematical notation is a social, world-building technology.

How Writing Changes Mathematical Thought | Quanta Magazine Home How Writing Changes Mathematical Thought Read Later Share Copied! Comments Read Later Read Later Q&A How Writing Changes Mathematical Thought By John Pavlus March 25, 2026 David E. Dunning explores how mathematical notation is a social, world-building technology. Read Later David E. Dunning explores how choices of notation — such as using Roman or Hindu-Arabic numerals — changes what you can do with math. Valerie Plesch for Quanta Magazine Introduction By John Pavlus Contributing Writer March 25, 2026 View PDF/Print Mode foundatio

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