Why do we call 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0 "Arabic Numerals"?

Question

Don't they use different numerals in the Arabic language?

Answer 1

The Arabs invented the system of writing numbers that use a zero and positions. All earlier number systems used different characters to represent "50" than to represent "5" for instance. The use of the zero makes it easy to write larger numbers than could easily be written in other number systems. Try to write any number above a million in Roman numerals if you don't believe me...

Yes, Arabic *does* use other forms for the numbers (although 1 and 9 are similar to the digits you are familiar with--see sources section below), but the point is that they have the same ten basic digits and use position within the number to express the same ideas.

Answer 2

several of these answers have already given the main facts which answer this query but there seems to be some confusion over whether modern day arabs still use the 'arabic' numbering system.

they most certainly do. arabs use different symbols for the numbers these days, but the system is the same.

the roman number system (which was no more complicated than other ancient number systems) was computative. faced with a number such as:

MDCXXXII

an ancient roman had to work out that this was:

1000 + 500 + 100 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 1 + 1

[1631]

a computational number system is clumsy for addition and subtraction, and makes multiplication and division effectively impossible.

the beauty of the 'arabic' number system - which arrived in europe very early in the middle ages - was that it is positional. faced with a number such as:

1631

we know that this is

one thousand
six hundreds
three tens
one unit

because the number system is more elegant addition and subtraction are easier, multiplication and division are finally possible (though extracting roots and computing logarithms are still problematic).

the new number system made new types of mathematical computation possible (including algebra and trigonometry) which in turn led to developments in engineering and banking which eventually give us the modern world.

and modern arabs most certainly use the same positional 'arabic' numerals as we do - though the ciphers are different.

Answer 3

The numbers were developed in India by the Hindus around 400 BCE. However, because it was Arabs who relayed this system to the West after the Hindu numerical system found its way to Persia, the numeral system became mis-identified as "Arabic" in the eyes of the Europeans. Arabs themselves call the Eastern Arabic numerals "Indian numerals," أرقام هندية, (arqam hindiyyah) and use a different set of Arabic symbols as numerals.

Answer 4

Because Arabs made this format and Indians the one we now call Arabic. Later on they exchanged it. Romans used the most complecated one with so many alphabets. They were utilizing less of their brain and Indians & Arabs were smart in those days.

FACT IS: The numbers were developed in India by the Hindus around 400 BCE. However, because it was Arabs who relayed this system to the West after the Hindu numerical system found its way to Persia, the numeral system became mis-identified as "Arabic" in the eyes of the Europeans. Arabs themselves call the Eastern Arabic numerals "Indian numerals," أرقام هندية, (arqam hindiyyah) and use a different set of Arabic symbols as numerals.

Answer 5

Since you've already gotten other, earlier responses to you query...

The Roman numeral used as an example immediately above my response is actually 1,632 in Arabic form... and NOT 1,631 as discussed by the responder repeatedly. Examine closely.

I know it could have easily been a TYPO-- but hey, I needed to earn my 2 points here anyway, so...

LOL.

Answer 6

They were the ones who invented them. I think they do still use them, even though their writing is different. Before we used those, we used Roman numerals, and you know how confusing that is. Untill we hit 2000, I was always trying to work out what year a movie was made, since they always seemed to use them when they stated that.

Answer 7

just as the one before me said they are Arabic num and the ones Arab used are Indians. in fact, those numbers if you take a closer look at them you can see how they were initiated. take the 2 for example it has two angles...3 has three angles ..4 has three(the three inside and the forth outside) and so on..i hope you got that cause its sometimes hard to imagine it without using a drawing to illustrate it

Answer 8

Because it was the Arabs who inventes this form of numbers. The strange thing is that they now use a form of numbers which was originally invented by indians!

Answer 9

1= wahad
2= ethnan
3= thalatha
4=arbaa'
5= khamsa
6=sittah
7=sabaa'
8=thamaneah
9=tesaa'
0= sefr

yes its is different in writing and pronouncing

Answer 10

it depends do u want the slang way ro the real arabic way?
1st ill say slang then real if there isnt a slang ill mention so
1=wahid(no slang)
2=itneed/ithnain or ithnan
3=talatah/thalatha
4=arbaA
5=khamsa
6=sitah
7=sabah
8=tamania
9=tisa
10=ashara