Brahmagupta is considered to be the first to conceptualize zero as a number in the 7th century.
While the concept of "nothing" has likely existed since the dawn of consciousness, zero as a numerical digit and mathematical concept evolved over time and across different cultures. It's not the invention of a single person, but rather a gradual development. However, Brahmagupta made the most significant early contribution to defining zero's properties and using it in calculations.
Here's a breakdown of the development:
-
Early Concepts of Nothing: Throughout history, various cultures have used placeholders to indicate the absence of a value. The Babylonians, for example, used a space or symbol in their sexagesimal (base-60) number system as early as the 3rd century BC. However, this wasn't yet zero as a number itself.
-
Brahmagupta's Breakthrough (7th Century): Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician and astronomer, explicitly defined zero as a number and outlined rules for its use in calculations. In his book Brahmasphutasiddhanta, he treated zero as a number and discussed its properties, including operations involving zero, such as addition and subtraction. This was a crucial step in the development of zero as we know it. The inscription of zero is seen on the walls of the Chaturbhuj Temple in Gwalior, India, dating back to this time.
-
Further Development and Spread: The concept of zero then spread from India to other parts of the world, including the Arab world. Arab mathematicians adopted and further developed the Hindu numeral system (which included zero), and it was eventually transmitted to Europe.
-
Important Note: It's important to note that others might have been simultaneously conceptualizing zero, but Brahmagupta is the earliest documented use of treating zero as a number.
In conclusion, while the idea of "nothing" existed earlier, Brahmagupta is credited with formalizing zero as a number and defining its properties for mathematical operations. This laid the groundwork for its wide-spread adoption and its integral role in modern mathematics.
