1. Real numbers form the basis of modern mathematics and were formally developed around the 3rd century BC, building on concepts of natural and rational numbers.
2. Ancient Greek mathematicians initially used geometric methods to describe numbers, laying the foundations for a symbolic representation of numbers.
3. Over time, mathematicians from various cultures contributed to developing the concepts of real numbers to be precise, complete, and applicable to both arithmetic and geometry. This led to a formal symbolic system for representing numbers.