Was Arabic Numerals discovered by Arabs or Indians?

Question

The discovery of Arabic numerals is undoubtedly the greatest in the human history. But who has the credit, Arabs or Indians?

Answer 1

Indians. Because the numerals became known in Europe in the 11th century via Arab and Persian sources, they became known as "Arabic" Numerals. In the Arabic language they are called "Indian numerals".

The correct name is "Hindu-Arabic numerals".

Answer 2

It is curious, but the Arabs do not use Arabic numerals - we do. The Arabs took the positional arithmetical system from the Indians, and started with the numerals we use. Later the Eastern Arab world switched back to a form closer to the hindu forms.

In the Arabic world, two forms of numbers are used. The Maghreb, that is the Western North african area of the Arab world, uses 'arabic numerals' of the type 1,2,3 etc.

These older forms were altered through further Indian influence in the East, to the symbols which can be seen today on Arabic forms and calendars.

The use of a figure for zero came only from the Indian sources.

Answer 3

The Hindu numerals also known as the Arabic numerals were undoubtedly started in India around 400 BC. The Arabs / Mughals came and invaded India around the 12th century AD. So there was a 1600 year gap between the advent of Mughals coming to India and the discovery of the Indian numbering system. More than the numerals , the most important discovery in mathematics was that of the decimal point '.' that was also discovered in India around the same time. For more information please read here .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_numerals

Answer 4

The Arabs did obtain the quantity method from the Indians, and the Europeans got them from the Arabs. Don't confuse Indian with Hindu, or Arab with Islamic - despite the fact that there are visible connections, they'll or might not be imperative to the growth of the numbers or their unfold to Europe. I assume that they aren't certainly imperative, because the numbers weren't certainly used for devout functions. However, because the numbers look to have gave the impression within the Arab global approximately the identical time as Islam was once situated, I consider the identical forces potentially introduced each the numbers and Islam to a couple ingredients of the sector. That isn't nevertheless announcing that Islam introduced the numbers - an primary difference. The cause they're referred to as Arabic numbers in Europe is that the Europeans first encountered them while utilized by Arab buyers. Consider it like anyone in an remoted tribe being visited by way of Americans - he's going to anticipate the language they talk is American, no longer English, on the grounds that he has no expertise of in which the language originated. Furthermore, the numbers the Arabic buyers had been making use of weren't precisely the identical as the ones utilized in India, so that they were not Indian numbers, however an Arabic growth of Indian numbers (similar to American English is not the identical as English in England). If you must blame anyone or some thing for the quantity having turn out to be referred to as Arabic, blame the European buyers of the Middle-Ages for no longer touring to India, or the Indian buyers for no longer touring to Europe. But fairly you'll suppose that they had been all blissful for the Arabs to do the touring. Also remember that it's not recognized if the Indians got a few ingredients of the quantity method from somewhere else, or built it wholly independently. For the list I'm no longer a Hindu or a Muslim, simply anyone with an curiosity in technological historical past and a way of reasonable play.

Answer 5

The numerals were discovered by the Indians but the credit is given to the Arabs because they had transferred it to the Europeans

Answer 6

The numerals arose in India between 400 BCE and 400 CE. They were transmitted first to West Asia, where they find mention in the 9th century, and eventually to Europe in the 10th century.Since knowledge of the numerals reached Europe through the work of Arab and Persian mathematicians and astronomers, the numerals came to be called "Arabic numerals." In Arabic language itself, the Eastern Arabic numerals are called "Indian numerals,

Answer 7

Arabs. If you look on word, insert symbol, you will find a list of Arabic numbers (Also look on the news - car reg plates and AFVs will display them.)

Originally introduced to Europe from Crusaders who, until that time, had been using Roman numerals.

However, the Arabic nations did have contact with india, using sea routes to transport slaves from the East coast to the Indian courts, so if you have a theory that they bought the concept back from India, I don't know. But as far as I know, it was definately the Arabs. This makes sense, given the knowledge that had been floating about in this region (E.G. Egyptians, Summarian, etc.)

Luck

Answer 8

They are called Hindu Arabic numerals. They were jointly discovered.