Are Numbers Real?

[robvalue]

I’d say they are representations of quantities of objects. Quantity itself is an abstract concept we use to help us make sense of reality. This is when considering applied standard maths. In pure maths, or other maths systems, the numbers need not represent anything.

Then again, pi becomes rather nebulous as a "quantity". Like you say, numbers are sometimes best viewed as ratios between real values such as distance.

(Edit: representations of dimensions is another way to think of numbers, although you may have a strange situation where certain amounts aren’t physically possible in the real world due to stable wavelengths / sizes of particles and so on.)