We really don’t know that to be certain (the fact that math is invented). This is a very longstanding philosophical debate with arguments on both sides.
Now, of course the symbols of math are invented. But math is the study of mathematical _objects_, and it’s very unclear if those are invented or discovered.
For example, the Curry-Howard isomorphism shows that math proofs and computer programs are the same mathematical object. Does this mean that they are a part of nature, and we discovered them because we invented a sufficiently powerful mathematical system? Or are they simply properties of the invented system?
We do not (and most likely can not) know the answer to that question. If someone is extremely convicted when offering an answer to it, consider me completely suspicious.
Now, of course the symbols of math are invented. But math is the study of mathematical _objects_, and it’s very unclear if those are invented or discovered.
For example, the Curry-Howard isomorphism shows that math proofs and computer programs are the same mathematical object. Does this mean that they are a part of nature, and we discovered them because we invented a sufficiently powerful mathematical system? Or are they simply properties of the invented system?
We do not (and most likely can not) know the answer to that question. If someone is extremely convicted when offering an answer to it, consider me completely suspicious.