The number 0 is probably the most “hated” number in the world, especially for those who are checking their bank account balances or football fans watching their favorite team play. So who invented zero? This article will explain why it is a “forever” invention of mankind, please refer to it.
The number zero is considered one of the greatest discoveries in human history. Without the zero, arithmetic operations would be much more difficult, because at that time humans did not have computers, and it would be almost impossible for us to solve complex mathematical equations that humans cannot solve. people can do it very easily nowadays.
The number 0 originated in India around the 7th century.
Perhaps you are all too familiar with the concept of “zero” , but the concept of zero is a true “invention” rather than a ready-made thing, and it originated in India around the 7th century , that is, more than 14 centuries ago.
Until the discovery of zero, performing even basic arithmetic operations was very difficult for humans. Many researchers have suggested that various ancient civilizations used the number 0, but only used it as a ” placeholder “, i.e. a symbol to represent something that did not “exist”. “ , but may “exist” then. The idea of “counting places” may be very natural to us today, but not to the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians .
This is the Sumerian “column of numbers” system used about 5,000 years ago.
The Sumerians were the first to develop a counting system about 5,000 years ago, and they were followed by the Babylonians. The Sumerians used spaces in their “numerical columns” to denote “empty” or “absence”, but did not use the number 0. It is speculated that prior to using zero as a “holder” place”, a pair of wedges was used to represent an empty spot.
About 600 years later, the Maya also developed the number 0 as a “placeholder” and they used it in their calendar system. However, none of them use zero as a number, or attempt to develop such an idea. It wasn’t until the 7th century AD in India that zero was used as a number and it had distinct characteristics.
Most scholars believe that the Indians were the first to invent the number 0, the reason for this “invention” is because of the cultural and religious background of India. It is due to the development of Buddhism and the philosophical concept of “emptiness” (also known as Śūnyatā in Sanskrit) . It forms a bridge between mathematics and philosophical teachings.
In the early teachings of Buddhism, the concept of ” emptiness” is closely related to the concept or doctrine of ” no-self ” (no permanent self or soul). This idea served as the basis for the invention of the number 0.
Without the zero, mathematics would not have developed so brilliantly.
Brahmagupta , an Indian mathematician, was the first to give the rules, operations and definition of zero, and it appeared in his book Brahmasphuṭasiddhānta . This is the oldest text that tells us that zero is considered a “number” instead of a “placeholder”.
At the time, the symbol for zero was a large dot, still very different from the one we use today. Perhaps because in the process of development, people see the importance of the number 0, and want it to become more visible and recognizable.
Without zero, mathematics would not have developed so brilliantly, and other sciences such as physics, chemistry, informatics, etc., which are closely related to mathematics would probably also be. did not reach its peak, and humanity would not have the civilization it is today.