What is a number?

Question:LOL i know this may sound stupid but when someone says what is a pen, i can go out and pick a pen and show them; it is an object that is the same everywhere. But when someone asks me what a number is, i cant go out a show them a number i can only draw it; it is a non-physical entity...........i dont know if you get what im saying, but it is a question that was asked in my philosophy class, can you tell me what a number, if you know??

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: LOL i know this may sound stupid but when someone says what is a pen, i can go out and pick a pen and show them; it is an object that is the same everywhere. But when someone asks me what a number is, i cant go out a show them a number i can only draw it; it is a non-physical entity...........i dont know if you get what im saying, but it is a question that was asked in my philosophy class, can you tell me what a number, if you know??

You're completely correct, a number isn't a physical entity, it is not something that can be shown in a physical form.
I believe the most accurate way to describe a number would be a 'concept'.

I get it, not sure how to explain it though.
A number is an abstract object, its like time or something. The word though can mean that object which we use to count or the actual numerals like 3 or 749.

a number is a concept that denotes quantity, so you can use objects to give examples of numbers.

is symbol expressing an amount or quantity or measure or to give you an idea of just how great something is how are you gonna react if i say Julius Caesar lead an army of 10 men oo big deal but if i say he lead a grand army of 100,100 men! you might react differently wow that so many or the same for amount of time are you gonna be more pisse d if you have to wait 10mins for something or 10 hours?
hope this answers helps

Its an amount compared to nothing.
0 compared to 1

A number is an abstract object, tokens of which are symbols used in counting and measuring. A symbol which represents a number is called a numeral, but in common usage the word number is used for both the abstract object and the symbol.

A number is a mathematical concept used to describe and assess quantity.