Apart from that, the number zero in mathematics also has an important role because it can act as an integer, a real number , and an algebraic structure. Therefore, without the number zero, the number system would be difficult to interpret and use.
Not only does it have an important role in the number system and mathematics, but the number zero also makes things easier in the multiplication system. This convenience will be seen when calculating the multiplication of zeros, where every number multiplied by zero will add up to zero. Because in multiplication, every number that is multiplied by zero then results in zero, then a division divided by zero becomes undefined.
If a number is divided or multiplied by the number zero, the result will be undefined and the number zero, so it is different from a number that is added or subtracted by the number zero. If a number is added or subtracted from zero, the result will be the same or unchanged. The number zero has many roles in mathematics, so it can be said that this number is a special number in mathematics.
It turns out that the number zero not only plays an important role in mathematics, but also plays a role in the lives we live, such as the number zero as a pointer to a place. For example, as a sign that the place is 0 kilometers from an area or you could say it is the zero point of an area. In general, the 0 kilometer point in an area is marked with “Indonesian Post Office”.
The number zero in the mathematical number system doesn’t just appear, but someone has discovered it. So, to find out who discovered the number zero, you can read this article until the end, happy reading.
A Brief History of the Number Zero
According to several historical records, the number zero has basically been around since the Babylonian era, which has existed since hundreds of BC. At that time, the concept of the number zero was more often used by the Babylonians to calculate the seasons that would occur.
The use of the number zero by scientists at that time was because there were no numbers like today. The number zero represents an absence that people were already aware of in Babylonian times or even hundreds of years before Christ.
After hundreds of years, the number zero was used to calculate the seasons, only in the 7th century AD, the number zero became known as a number and was used in mathematics. The concept of the number zero first appeared in India. According to Indian culture, the number zero symbolized by a circle indicates the circle of life. The mathematician from India was an astronaut and his name was Brahmagupta. He conducted various kinds of research on numbers and one of those numbers was the number zero.
Apart from that, Brahmagupta not only conducted research on numbers or numbers, but also gave symbols to numbers, one of the symbols was given to the number zero in the form of 0. Not only did he conduct research on the number zero, Brahmagupta also developed research in the form of operating rules for numbers. with zeros. The number zero, which was developed by Brahmagupta, can be used to perform calculations with other numbers. In other words, the number zero can be used in calculation operations, such as addition, subtraction and multiplication.
As time went by and the development of increasingly modern science, the concept of the number zero that had been developed by Brahmagupta became known to the people of the Middle East. At that time, the development of science in the Islamic world was at its peak. Until finally, an astronomer came from India and his name was Kankah.
Caliph Al Mansur was a leader who was visited by Kankah bringing a book entitled Shindind . The book contains information about how to calculate the movement of stars accurately. Caliph Al Mansur, who read the book, began to feel interested, so he gave orders to scientists at Bayt al Hikmah (a place for Muslim scientists to deepen their knowledge) to translate the book with the title Shindid into Arabic. Then, a scientist, Muhammad Al Fasari began to carry out orders from Caliph Al Mansur. After being translated into Arabic, a book was produced with the title Shind al Hindi Kabir .
When the number zero from Brahmagupta had started to enter the Islamic world, there was a scientist as well as a mathematician interested in seeing and understanding the book titled Shind al Hindi Kabir . Later, Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Kharizmi or better known as Al-Khawarizmi began to complete the book that had been read before. He completed the book using the calculation method derived from Brahmagupta’s zero number. The results of the improvements that have been made are recorded in a book entitled Al-Jami wa Al-Tafriq bi Hisab Al-Hind .
Until finally, the book written by Al-Khwarizmi began to be disseminated to mainland Europe even though it faced several obstacles. After the book spread across mainland Europe, it was translated into Latin and produced a book entitled Algoritmi de Numero Indorum . Our spread to mainland Europe marked the beginning of Al-Khwarizmi’s algorithm science starting to develop.
Properties of the Number Zero
Below we will explain some of the unique properties of the number zero, namely:
- A positive number added to zero will produce a positive number.
- A negative number which, if added to zero, results in a negative number. This result applies the same as subtraction.
- Zero is added or subtracted from zero, then the result is zero.
- If zero is subtracted from a positive number, the result is a negative number (0 – positive number = negative number).
- If zero is subtracted from a negative number, it will produce a positive number (0 – negative number = positive number).
- Any number, if multiplied by zero the result is zero
- If any number is divided by zero, it produces an undefined number.