FACTS
OR: How Zero Was Discovered
Nils-Bertil Wallin
November 19, 2002
From placeholder to the driver of calculus, Zero has crossed the greatest minds and most diverse borders since it was born many centuries ago. Today, Zero is arguably the most ubiquitous global symbol ever known. In the story of Zero, something - {∃} - can be made out of nothing - {}.
Detailed History of Zero
Our journey begins in ancient India, around the 5th century CE. In the spiritual and cultural space of Hinduism, a concept emerged that would change the course of mathematics forever. In Sanskrit, this concept was known as 'śūnya,' which translates to 'nothingness.' It was in India that the seed of 'zero' was planted, and its importance began to take root. Among the luminaries associated with the invention of 'zero,' one name stands out: Aryabhata, an accomplished astronomer and mathematician.
History of Zero in Persia
The next chapter in the history of 'zero' takes us to Persia in the 9th century. Here, a remarkable philosopher and mathematician named Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī played a pivotal role. His Latinized name, Algorithmi, echoes in the corridors of artificial intelligence. Al Khwarizmi was not only the father of algebra but also a key figure in the journey of 'zero.' His work as a librarian in the House of Wisdom in Baghdad served as a beacon, spreading the knowledge of 'zero' across the Arab world and eventually towards the Mediterranean.
Fibonacci and the European Connection in History of Zero
Our historical voyage continues with Fibonacci, also known as Leonardo of Pisa. He carried the torch of 'zero' and the Hindu-Arabic decimal system from the Arab traders he encountered during his father's merchant tours in Tunisia. Recognizing the superiority of the decimal system over Roman numerals, Fibonacci shared his knowledge through his book, 'Liber Abaci' (Book of Calculation), published in 1202. This pivotal work introduced 'zero' and decimal mathematics to Europe, changing the way mathematics was approached on the continent.
Nikola Tesla Role in History of Zero
Fast forward to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and we encounter Nikola Tesla, an inventor whose innovations laid the foundation for the electronic and digital age. Tesla's groundbreaking work included wireless technology and ideas that were ahead of his time. Like Al-Kwarizmi and Fibonacci, Tesla was a boundary spanner, drawing inspiration from both science and spirituality. His exploration of spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, influenced his engineering inventions, demonstrating the profound connections between science and spirituality.
Key Contributors in the History of Zero
Aryabhata
Ancient Indian mathematician who used a dot to represent zero and contributed to the understanding of its mathematical properties.
Brahmagupta
Indian mathematician who formulated rules for arithmetic with zero, including defining zero as a number and its behavior in arithmetic operations.
Al-Khwarizmi
Persian mathematician who popularized the decimal system, including the use of zero, in his influential book "Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing).
Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci)
Italian mathematician who introduced the Hindu-Arabic numeral system and zero to Europe through his book "Liber Abaci," which helped transition from Roman numerals to the modern numeric system.
John Napier
Scottish mathematician who invented logarithms, which made complex calculations, including those involving zero, more manageable and played a crucial role in various fields of science and engineering.
Isaac Newton
English mathematician and physicist who developed calculus, a branch of mathematics that heavily relies on the concept of zero as a limit, leading to significant advancements in mathematics and physics.
Gottfried Leibniz
German mathematician and philosopher who independently developed calculus and made important contributions to the formalization of mathematical notation, including the use of zero as a placeholder.
For more information on Zero please visit the following website, source of most of the information above.
History of Zero: Check Brief History, Origin, Timeline Info Here!
References:
1. Kaplan, Robert (2000). The Nothing that Is: A Natural History of Zero. New York: Oxford University Press.
2. Seife, Charles (2000). Zero: The Biography
Rights:
© Copyright Yale Center for the Study of Globalization 2002
As a bonus, Brianetics is providing the table below in order that all its followers will forever be able to boast: I know Zero no matter where I go.
Zero In Is Pronounced
Albanian Zero
Bulgarian нула
Chinese Líng
Danish Nul
Estonian Null
French Zero
Greek Miden
Hindi Shoony
Irish Nialas
Javanese Nul
Kurdish Sifir
Lithuanian Nulis
Maltese Zero
Nepali Śūn'ya
Odia Zero
Portugese Ziro
Qatar (Arabic) Sifr
Romanian ˈzirō
Slovak Nula
Tartar нуль
Uzbek Nol
Vietnamese số không
Welsh Sero
Xhosa Null
Yoruba Null
Zulu Null
How happy must you be, provided wth translations for Zero in languages A to Z free of charge! And this thrilling Globolinguistic offering now endows you with the enviable skill of saying "Zero" in 26 separate and distinct foreign tongues! Of course, exactly half of those tongues screech either "Null" or "Zero" or a similar sound - and with 13 languages using the same utterances for Zero this exercise is hardly thrilling. Such an imperceptible thrill, in fact, that the thrill experienced can be quantified as Null. And a dull Null at that. On that note the Zerosphere is closed to the public for an undetermined period of time as the future of Zero is repurposed to fulfill the expectations of zerophiles everywhere. And that's all there is to that.
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