Ask The Alethiometer!

[Kappa]

There was also a stealth pun on the phrase "none of your beeswax". Kas would've giggled.

[Alphabeta]

Alethiometer, why are you so bad at math?

[Kappa]

Fair warning that when Kas asked the alethiometer this question he described its response as "philosophical".

[Alphabeta]

Hm. Math fortitude learning steadfastness truth language

... "math isn't real"? Alternatively, "Math is hard, and also a language."

[Kappa]

Try different readings of most of those symbols. Subtly different in some cases, substantially different in others.

[Alphabeta]

Hm. Measure justice wisdom prevention truth process

...Math makes it hard to tell the truth properly about philosophical things?

[Kappa]

No, although that could easily be a valid alternate reading XD

The meanings I use here for sword, anchor, sun, and alpha-omega have all appeared previously in alethiometer answers I have given. The meaning of compass is fairly obvious from context, but not precisely what you've been guessing, and the meaning of crucible is fresh out of my brain and may be difficult to guess.

[Alphabeta]

Precedent no experience meaning alethiometer end

I don't really get the whole "finite numbers" thing? Or "I'm too immortal to understand something as finite as math"?

[Kappa]

Compass is not precedent, and crucible is not experience, and alpha-omega is not end.

[Alphabeta]

Alethiometer (the device and not the entity speaking through it) no knowledge meaning alethiometer (the person speaking through it) language.

"I don't know how to say numbers through this thing"?