1. One is a number. It is the simplest number and, obviously, “one” is the first number that every living thing that has ever existed on the Earth has ever understood (if a “living thing” is considered to be a thing that understands numbers or distinctions).

2. Two is also a number. “Two” is a number (or a sign, or a symbol, or a word, or a concept, or a theory…) that is different from one. Two is, obviously, the second number that every living thing that has ever existed on the Earth has ever understood (if a “living thing” is considered to be a thing that understands numbers or distinctions).

3. Three is a number that is distinct from one and two. The concept of “three” is not necessarily understood or recognized by a particular living thing. The number three (and all associated signs, symbols, and so on…) was invented by human beings, but it is believed by most that other living beings that exist on the Earth have both understood this concept and communicated this concept to other living beings on the Earth.

4. All other positive integers may be constructed and understood using only the information contained in points one, two, and three.

5. Without using any of the preceding four (4) ideas, it is possible to create a concept which extends the theory of numbers into an entirely new field for investigation. This mysterious concept was invented long ago by a man or a woman who lived far away from where you are now. The most common symbols and terms used to represent this concept are “0″, “zero”, and |_| (or “empty”, or “empty set”, or “does not exist”).

Elementary (simple, easy to grasp, easy to communicate, easy to test, and easy to represent) operations may be defined in relation to the five (5) concepts defined above. New concepts are easily conceived and may be expressed with the addition of more symbols. A system of logic and thinking can be developed by adhering to the principle herein described. This process is considered by experts to be a language called “mathematics”. In the language of mathematics, things can be expressed that are so complex that you could never understand it all, even if you devoted every minute of every day for your entire life. Regardless of how hard you work, how much assistance you seek, how much others desire to help you, and how successful others are in providing you with the appropriate help, it is certain that no limitation to mathematics exists (except for the theoretical limit imposed by the assumed finite amount of information that exists in the known universe, which may be represented by the expression “two to the number of bits in the known universe”). (This “number”, while understood to be extremely large, is by definition finite if the proper assumptions are made).

Some people feel stress and anxiety about math. I do not believe that this is necessary. I believe that the only math that should be considered “necessary” is math that people find to be fun and relaxing. Properly taught, mathematics IS, in fact, fun and relaxing. A few consider mathematics to be the most beautiful and profound subject of study ever to be conceived by man. I tend to agree, although of course I also believe that there are MANY other things of beauty in the world. One reason that many are forced to experience anxiety and stress is that they require a knowledge of math in order to meet their survival needs. The math required for such vital needs is, as it ought to be, extremely simple and easy to comprehend. One way to make mathematics to seem incomprehensibly complex and frightening is to use extremely long and complicated symbols and expressions. One endeavor in which this type of presentation is given on a second-by-second basis is called “accounting”. Accounting is the study of money and investments. Investments are commonly understood to mean “that which one does with one’s money”. For more information about money, see related articles.