Friday, 31 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Tech and Science > The Strange and Surprising History of the Once-Rejected Zero
Tech and Science

The Strange and Surprising History of the Once-Rejected Zero

Last updated: May 10, 2025 10:15 am
Share
The Strange and Surprising History of the Once-Rejected Zero
SHARE

Zero is a number that has long been misunderstood and even banned in some societies. Despite its neutrality as the only real number that is neither positive nor negative, zero has faced resistance throughout history. In ancient times, cultures struggled to accept zero as a legitimate number, with some even using alternative methods to represent nothingness.

The Babylonians, for example, used a place-value system based on 60, where a space was used to indicate zero. Similarly, ancient Greeks, while familiar with the concept of nothingness, did not consider zero a part of mathematics. It wasn’t until the seventh century C.E. that the Indian scholar Brahmagupta introduced zero as a number, along with negative numbers.

Brahmagupta’s rules for dealing with zero and negative numbers quickly spread to Arabic scholars, who developed the Arabic number system. However, during the Crusades, European societies rejected Arabic knowledge, leading to the banning of zero in Florence in 1299. It took over 100 years for Arabic numerals, including zero, to become widely accepted in Europe.

In the 20th century, mathematician Ernst Zermelo established a set of rules for modern mathematics, including the axiom that “there is an empty set,” akin to the zero of set theory. This empty set serves as the foundation for constructing numbers and other mathematical concepts. Zermelo’s work laid the groundwork for integers, negative numbers, fractions, and irrational numbers.

By accepting zero as a starting point, humanity unlocked the power of mathematics and paved the way for the development of complex mathematical structures. Despite its initial resistance and negative associations, zero has become an essential component of modern mathematics. Embracing zero as a neutral and foundational number has been crucial for advancing mathematical understanding and innovation.

See also  Can a strange state of matter explain what life is – and how it began?
TAGGED:historyOnceRejectedStrangeSurprising
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Post-Met Gala, Gigi Hadid Is Back To Comfy (But Still Elevated) Casuals Post-Met Gala, Gigi Hadid Is Back To Comfy (But Still Elevated) Casuals
Next Article US military leaders wade into fight over tax breaks for critical minerals US military leaders wade into fight over tax breaks for critical minerals
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

Analysts revamp Marvell stock price forecast on CEO comments

Marvell Technology: Riding the Wave of AI and Data Center Growth Marvell Technology, a leading…

September 29, 2025

Nanomaterials in Consumer Products: Miracle or Menace?

Nanomaterials have long been hailed as a groundbreaking technology with the potential to revolutionize various…

July 2, 2025

125 Compare and Contrast Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

When it comes to writing a compare and contrast essay, choosing the right topics is…

September 11, 2024

The Scandalous Real-Life Siblings That Inspired ‘House of Guinness’

On September 25, Netflix debuted its latest period drama, House of Guinness. Set in the…

September 25, 2025

Why Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba could face suspension for missing MLS All-Star Game

The MLS All-Star game took an unexpected turn as Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and…

July 23, 2025

You Might Also Like

Tech Advisor December 2025 Digital Magazine
Tech and Science

Tech Advisor December 2025 Digital Magazine

October 31, 2025
Scientists Identified a New Blood Group After a 50-Year Mystery : ScienceAlert
Tech and Science

Scientists Identified a New Blood Group After a 50-Year Mystery : ScienceAlert

October 31, 2025
Nanotyrannus Isn’t a Juvenile T-Rex—It’s a Separate Dinosaur
Tech and Science

Nanotyrannus Isn’t a Juvenile T-Rex—It’s a Separate Dinosaur

October 31, 2025
How Much Does Grocery Delivery App Development Cost in 2025?
Tech and Science

How Much Does Grocery Delivery App Development Cost in 2025?

October 31, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?