History of Zero in India

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By the 7th century AD, it became a number, allowing complex math and forever changing science, here are some ways to see the history.

1

Ancient Roots

The Sanskrit word "shunya" translates to "emptiness" or "void," laying the groundwork for its mathematical adoption.

2

Early Placeholders

Aryabhata used dots or symbols to represent the absence of value, a crucial step towards zero.

3

The Decimal System

Around the 5th century AD,  Aryabhata, a renowned astronomer and mathematician, is credited with zero in the decimal number system.

4

The Rules of Zero

In the 7th century AD, Brahmagupta defined zero as a numerical digit and established rules for its use.

5

The Bakhshali Manuscript

This ancient manuscript, discovered in the 19th century, contains symbols resembling zero.

6

From Shunya to Zero

The symbol for zero likely evolved, with some theories suggesting a dot becoming a circle as it travelled westward.

7

Foundation for Modern Math

The concept of zero revolutionized mathematics, enabling complex calculations, the development of algebra etc.