Malsidabym
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I have heard many times on these forums claims that muslims invented mathmatics. It is important to realize that there are many types, levels, methods, etc, of mathmatics, and there is not one, but many origins of mathmatics.
It would take a very long thread to discuss all origins of all mathmatics, therefore I will only discuss the number zero.
Zero was independently invented three times. The first zero is attributed to the Babylonians(Iraq) in the 3rd century BC.
The Mayans, halfway around the world in Central America, independently invented zero in the fourth century.
In India around the middle of the fifth century, once again the zero is born. It spread to Cambodia around the end of the 7th century. From India it moved into China and then to the Islamic countries. Zero finally reached western Europe in the 12th century.
The Babylonians used a sexigesimal number system, they counted in 60s. They scratched wedges and crescents in different patterns on damp clay tablets to make numbers from 1 to 59. A placeholder was required and originally a blank space was used, but this lead to problems and then a sideways double wedge was used.
The zero as we know it was still not in existence though as they only used it for a placeholder. There still was no "zero". For example, in recording inventory, they would write"15 minus 15" to represent nothing, or simply write "the goods are exhausted".
Islam was founded around 600AD by the prophet Muhammed, this placeholder was invented in the 3rd century BC, therefore the zero placeholder was invented by arabs, not muslims.
The zero as is commonly used as a number and placeholder in calculations and formulas in the world today, was developed by the mathmaticians of India in the fifth century.
It would take a very long thread to discuss all origins of all mathmatics, therefore I will only discuss the number zero.
Zero was independently invented three times. The first zero is attributed to the Babylonians(Iraq) in the 3rd century BC.
The Mayans, halfway around the world in Central America, independently invented zero in the fourth century.
In India around the middle of the fifth century, once again the zero is born. It spread to Cambodia around the end of the 7th century. From India it moved into China and then to the Islamic countries. Zero finally reached western Europe in the 12th century.
The Babylonians used a sexigesimal number system, they counted in 60s. They scratched wedges and crescents in different patterns on damp clay tablets to make numbers from 1 to 59. A placeholder was required and originally a blank space was used, but this lead to problems and then a sideways double wedge was used.
The zero as we know it was still not in existence though as they only used it for a placeholder. There still was no "zero". For example, in recording inventory, they would write"15 minus 15" to represent nothing, or simply write "the goods are exhausted".
Islam was founded around 600AD by the prophet Muhammed, this placeholder was invented in the 3rd century BC, therefore the zero placeholder was invented by arabs, not muslims.
The zero as is commonly used as a number and placeholder in calculations and formulas in the world today, was developed by the mathmaticians of India in the fifth century.
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