Zero

$Zero$ Zero

Zero is the arithmetical symbol 0 or null denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity. Also, it is the number between the set of all negative numbers and the set of all positive numbers. The use of zero as a number appeared in Egyptian number systems. It was used, however, only between two numbers to indicate an empty position, never at the end of a number. While the early Chinese did not have a symbol for zero, the invention and use of their abacus suggests that they had an implied appreciation for positional base notation and zero as a number. The Mayans did have a zero symbol, but their inconsistency in base notation rendered it virtually useless for computations. The first use of zero as a place holder in positional base notation was due probably to Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi. [RA] {EB}