Why doesn't the US establish a convention that all zeros have a slash through them?

Question

This would differentiate them from the letter O, potentially reducing mistakes that could be costly.

Answer 1

Because a zero with a slash means empty set (the set with nothing in it). An empty set is entirely different than zero in mathematics.

Answer 2

A nation does not establish a convention. It is just a thing that most people do and as such, most people follow.

If most cases, the disrepancy between O and 0 is cleared up by the context of the symbol. Of course, in randomly created passwords/UPC barcodes/etc., there is more of such a need. I only use a slashed zero when such a discrpeancy might occur. But I don't think any madnate (be it "official" or otherwise) is neccesary.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Why stop there? Put a little slash through 7's and Z's too.

How do you differentiate between 1 and l?

Answer 5

I agree, and I've been doing it when necessary. Another point of confusion is 2 and Z. I put a third parallel line in the center of the Z.

Answer 6

0 with a slash through it = no solution

Answer 7

Just wait until you start seeing a bunch of 0s and thetas together... then you'll be sorry!

Answer 8

Then we would get confused by the Greek letter Phi.

Answer 9

Same reason we don't have a dollar coin or use the metric system. The government won't force it on us and nobody cares.

Answer 10

Never affected me in a significant way.