When my grandson was in the 6th grade his teacher asked if zero was a number or a 'space-holder'? What is it?

Answer 1

It's a number - first invented by the arabs

Answer 2

It depends on the definition of number.

Wikipedia defines "number" as : an abstract entity that represents a count or measurement.

Zero does not serve as a count, per se. It serves more as a place holder for "no count". You don't have zero oranges, really. You have none. If you had one orange, you'd have one orange.

Mathematically speaking, its a bit of an oddity in that it doesnt behave like other numbers.

0 plus itself is still zero. Zero multiplied by anything is zero. And there are occasions when division by zero is impossible.

Its the only "number" that that can be said about. As a number, it adds nothing of value to an equation.

But, it falls on a number line. Mathematic formulas can be used with it, and it is necessary for defining physical phenomena.

So the "real" answer probably is, yes, zero is a number.

The sixth grader answer is, zero is a place holder.

Answer 3

Zero is a digit in the real number realm (plus other realms too) of the decimal system (and binary, etc.). Also, zero is a number that is used as a "space"-holder (although I would prefer to say place holder). What this means is that it marks a space to show higher numbers like 100 or 3,409 etc.

So, it is both.

Answer 4

Zero is a place holder. A number is a quantity.
If you say "I have zero" then you have nothing; You have no number of things. There is a fine line of semantics here. Some would argue that you "have" neqative equity if you owe $10,000 on a car thats worth $9000. Do you really 'have a quantity' in that case? I would say no. Others would say yes, you 'have' a negative $1000. The question then becomes "is zero something"

Answer 5

Both.

0 (zero) is both a number — or, more precisely, a numeral representing a number — and a numerical digit. It represents the concept of nothing; an absence of other values, and is used as a placeholder in place value systems. Zero was the last digit to be incorporated in most numeral systems. In the English language, zero may also be called nil when a number, o/oh when a numeral, and nought/naught in either context.

Answer 6

Zero is a number because it is measurable in the context of a grading system.

Example if you are supposed to take a test but fail to show up. You get a zero for that grade. When calculating the average of all grades, a zero are literal numerical scores, not just "placeholders" or "incomplete/unmeasurable" scores.

By itself zero has weight in grading systems, statisical analysis, and any other ranking sceme. A good rule of thumb is ... if it is measurable and has the ability to affect other numbers .... it is a number.

Answer 7

The number zero is infact a number NOT a space holder

Answer 8

Zero is a number. Numbers represent how many of something. Zero represents nothing of that something.

Answer 9

I remember it being called a space holder.

Answer 10

I would consister it a space holder
but ........
In the counting numbers you have 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,
in the natural numbers you have 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,
in the real number you have
... -3,-2,-1,) ,1,2,3 ...
hope this helps