Name: anne b huffer
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1995
Question:
Can you tell me anything about the origin of the use of zero as a place
holder and indicator of a null quantity? I know about the Hindu use of 9
symbols and the Indian use of ' as a place holder. My primary source has
been Boyer. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Replies:
Bell, The Development of Mathematics, suggests that zero was independently
developed by the Hindus, Babylonians and Maya.
The best source I know of is Morris Kline, Mathematical Thought from
Ancient to Modern Times (Oxford, 1972; paperback). He reports that zero
symbols are found in Alexandrian Greek documents.
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