What group of people are responsible for the concept of "0"?

Question

please help i need extra credit for math

Answer 1

Since you ask about the CONCEPT of zero --usually taken to mean the ability to use zero as a number in a mathematical system-- we owe this to INDIAN mathematicians from about AD 600 to 800. (This, along with other features of their system, was then diffused to China, and to the Western world through Arab mathematicians... whence our "Arabic numerals".)

There are, however, earlier examples of a "place marker" zero. We find one among later Babylonian mathematicians (about 700 B.C.) and then the Greeks.

"A history of Zero"
http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Zero.html


It has also been claimed that ancient Egyptians had an even earlier use of zero (as early as 2600 B.C. !?), though the author of this little article mistakenly confuses their possible use of some sort of zero place marker with the (numerical) CONCEPT of zero (a careless mistake, apparently driven by eagerness to prove that the 'Africans' had it first).

"The Ancient Egyptian Concept of Zero and the Egyptian Symbol for Zero: A Note on a Little Known African Achievement"
http://www.ethnomath.org/resources/ISGEm/084.htm

We also know that the Mayans had a "zero" that was operative in their "Classic Period" (AD 250-900). They used as a place holder. (As we saw above, others made this type of use of it earlier.)
http://everyschool.org/u/logan/culturalmath/zero.htm
http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Mayan_mathematics.html

Also note that, whatever the Mayans or Egyptians may have done with zero died out before it spread to the rest of the world. Thus the discovery and use that has helped shape modern mathematics throughout the world is attributable to India (with an important assist from later Arabs/Muslims).

Answer 2

Ancient Indians (from India. The Sub-Continent.)

Answer 3

0 is a digit. Your digital chronograph watch chimes on 0 seconds or on the hour and ends on second 29. In math it is a recurring fact to consider. That is 30 chimes or 30 seconds.

Answer 4

I know that the Mayas knew the concept of zero well before the Europeans. i think Indians (from India) knew it as well.

Answer 5

The Burghers

Answer 6

Depending on which way one looks, West or East, the Arabs or Indians:
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/HistTopics/Zero.html

Answer 7

I am not really sure but it may have been the Incas

Answer 8

India was

Answer 9

I've always been told that it was the Arabs.

Answer 10

me and some of my class mates