23/04/2026
It's wild to think that, until the 5th century, we didn’t have the number zero! It was an Indian mathematician called Aryabhata who established zero as a digit in itself rather than merely a placeholder.
Then, in the 7th century, another Indian mathematician called Brahmagupta developed methods for calculating using zero that we still use to this day.
Previous number systems, like roman numerals, lacked a symbol for ‘nothing’, so while these systems were good for everyday maths (such as building things, timekeeping, and accounting), they weren’t so good for more advanced stuff.
For example, it was Brahmagupta's conception of zero that helped him formalise the use of negative numbers, which was a pretty important breakthrough in the history of mathematics.
Prior to Brahmagupta, ancient Greek mathematics was rooted in geometry, where all geometrical diagrams represented positive quantities, so negative numbers weren't really a concern for the Greeks. Meanwhile, ancient Chinese mathematicians made significant advancements by using coloured rods to represent positive and negative numbers, but it was Indian mathematicians who later came up with the clear, systematic rules for working with them.
☆ Interestingly, in 1758, British mathematician Francis Maseres argued that negative numbers did not exist, stating: '[Negative numbers] make dark of the things which are in their nature excessively obvious and simple.' ☆
🅾❤
