ZERO--THE INFINITE NUMBER

ZERO – THE ‘INFINITE’ NUMBER

Who invented the Zero...? Why is it considered a great invention...? Zero-in on this page to know more...
Students often make fun, amongst themselves, of getting zero in the exams if they didn’t do an exam well or if the question paper was tough. It is believed that the Zero came into existence in 458 A.D.
‘Zero’, when it stands alone by itself, means nothing. But when used as a ‘digit’ in the place value system, it has its value.
Undoubtedly full credit goes to India for the invention of Zero. The number zero first appears in a book on ‘arithmetic’ written by an Indian mathematician ‘Brahamagupta’. . Around 500 AD, Aryabhata, an Indian mathematician, devised a number system and the symbol he used for the number zero was also the number used to represent an unknown element (x) which was quite confusing. However, with continued improvements, by 876 A.D., the concept of zero was mostly understood and the symbol for it was ascertained.
In the beginning ‘Zero’ was shown in the form of a DOT or by a circle. It was known by the name ‘shunya’ meaning ‘nothing’ in Sanskrit. It signifies ‘nothing’ and the current definition calls it an ‘additive identity’. Mathematically x + 0 = x, i.e. 0 is a number which, when added to a number, yields the same number. Indian mathematicians used it widely in calculations, astronomy and astrology.
The Sanskrit word ‘shunya’ became ‘sifr’ in Arabic language, meaning ‘nothing’. The Arabic word ‘sifr’ became ‘zephyr’ in Latin and later ‘zephyr’ came to be known as ‘zero’. The use of Zero gradually spread to European countries and from there it took wings all over the world.
Now, India is recognized with great respect for its invention of Zero and its immense importance in Technology. (Source – Wikipedia)