the book to read is "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife. it covers the entire history of the number, from its first well-known usage to today, with a number of quite entertaining discussions on its importance in mathematics. (the story of Zeno's paradox is particularly interesting as it introduces the concept of mathematical limits, the basis of Calculus.)
First person to introduce the modern number system to Europe was Fibonacci (also known as Leonardo of Pisa). He knew numbers were originated in India and he called the mathematics came along with it (or todays arithmetic) "Modus Indorem" or "method of the Indians". The numebers he called "nine figures of the indians with symbol ziphra". Please see what he wrote in 1100 AD."After my father's appointment by his homeland as state official in the customs house of Bugia for the Pisan merchants who thronged to it, he took charge; and in view of its future usefulness and convenience, had me in my boyhood come to him and there wanted me to devote myself to and be instructed in the study of calculation for some days. There, following my introduction, as a consequence of marvelous instruction in the art, to the nine digits of the Hindus, the knowledge of the art very much appealed to me before all others, and for it I realized that all its aspects were studied in Egypt, Syria, Greece, Sicily, and Provence, with their varying methods; and at these places thereafter, while on business. I pursued my study in depth and learned the give-and-take of disputation. But all this even, and the algorism, as well as the art of Pythagoras, I considered as almost a mistake in respect to the method of the Hindus (Modus Indorum). Therefore, embracing more stringently that method of the Hindus, and taking stricter pains in its study, while adding certain things from my own understanding and inserting also certain things from the niceties of Euclid's geometric art. I have striven to compose this book in its entirety as understandably as I could, dividing it into fifteen chapters. Almost everything which I have introduced I have displayed with exact proof, in order that those further seeking this knowledge, with its pre-eminent method, might be instructed, and further, in order that the Latin people might not be discovered to be without it, as they have been up to now. If I have perchance omitted anything more or less proper or necessary, I beg indulgence, since there is no one who is blameless and utterly provident in all things. The nine Indian figures are: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. With these nine figures, and with the sign 0 ... any number may be written.
I read that the word "zero" is actually a word from the Sumerian word zeru meaning "seed". The account goes on to say that when God instructed Noah to save the animals by taking them into the Ark, God used the word "zeru" meaning "seed" instructing Noah to take the "seeds" (dna) of the animals, not the actual animals themselves. Sounds intriguing.
urusaiJan 17, 2007
I thought zero was invented when Spinal Tap needed a volume so low it was like turning off their amps.
dev3Jan 17, 2007
damn! The author gets a 0 for this
renjipanickerJan 17, 2007
It was them Usians, dammit. Theyze invented the zero0000zer0...
alexiscaptiveJan 17, 2007
i was waiting for something about megaman and s**t.... whatever.....
hypnotizdJan 17, 2007
@ 0x0000ffI'm using FF 2.0.0.1 with Adblock Plus 0.7.2.4 and I still got that pop up. Did you even go to the website?
greyfadeJan 17, 2007
the book to read is "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife. it covers the entire history of the number, from its first well-known usage to today, with a number of quite entertaining discussions on its importance in mathematics. (the story of Zeno's paradox is particularly interesting as it introduces the concept of mathematical limits, the basis of Calculus.)
ruwanrajDec 12, 2007
First person to introduce the modern number system to Europe was Fibonacci (also known as Leonardo of Pisa). He knew numbers were originated in India and he called the mathematics came along with it (or todays arithmetic) "Modus Indorem" or "method of the Indians". The numebers he called "nine figures of the indians with symbol ziphra". Please see what he wrote in 1100 AD."After my father's appointment by his homeland as state official in the customs house of Bugia for the Pisan merchants who thronged to it, he took charge; and in view of its future usefulness and convenience, had me in my boyhood come to him and there wanted me to devote myself to and be instructed in the study of calculation for some days. There, following my introduction, as a consequence of marvelous instruction in the art, to the nine digits of the Hindus, the knowledge of the art very much appealed to me before all others, and for it I realized that all its aspects were studied in Egypt, Syria, Greece, Sicily, and Provence, with their varying methods; and at these places thereafter, while on business. I pursued my study in depth and learned the give-and-take of disputation. But all this even, and the algorism, as well as the art of Pythagoras, I considered as almost a mistake in respect to the method of the Hindus (Modus Indorum). Therefore, embracing more stringently that method of the Hindus, and taking stricter pains in its study, while adding certain things from my own understanding and inserting also certain things from the niceties of Euclid's geometric art. I have striven to compose this book in its entirety as understandably as I could, dividing it into fifteen chapters. Almost everything which I have introduced I have displayed with exact proof, in order that those further seeking this knowledge, with its pre-eminent method, might be instructed, and further, in order that the Latin people might not be discovered to be without it, as they have been up to now. If I have perchance omitted anything more or less proper or necessary, I beg indulgence, since there is no one who is blameless and utterly provident in all things. The nine Indian figures are: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. With these nine figures, and with the sign 0 ... any number may be written.
ortegopJun 12, 2009
I read that the word "zero" is actually a word from the Sumerian word zeru meaning "seed". The account goes on to say that when God instructed Noah to save the animals by taking them into the Ark, God used the word "zeru" meaning "seed" instructing Noah to take the "seeds" (dna) of the animals, not the actual animals themselves. Sounds intriguing.