See All Arabic Numbers (below)
Here’s a look the angles they used, and then how they came to be known as Arabic numerals:
Numbers Equal the Angles
It was in India where the numbers started. The angles (shown here) started with Zero (no angles), 1 had one angle, 2 had two angles, 3 had three angles, and so on.
"Arabic Numbers" typically refers to the numeral system: (0, 1, 2, 3, …, 9) it's used in most parts of the world today.
Originating in India and later going to Arabia (now we call them "Arabic numerals") with the Muslims.
1. Origins in India
- Arabic numerals developed in India, featuring a decimal (base-10) system and place value. This concept was revolutionary at the time.
- Zero: The zero was invented and is one of the most significant innovations in the history of mathematics.
2. Transmission to the Muslim World (c. 8th century)
- The numerals and the concept of zero reach Arabia and the Muslims, by way of Persian and Arabic scholars, especially after the Islamic Golden Age (8th–14th centuries).
- A key figure in this was from Persia n mathematician al-Khwarizmi (c. 780–850 CE), who was instrumental in introducing the Indian numeral system to the Islamic world. His famous work "Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" ("The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing") not only provided algebraic methods but also made extensive use of the Indian numerals.
- The Indian numerals were adapted and modified in the Arabic script. Thus, the numerals began to take their distinctive Arabic-Indic forms (٠, ١, ٢, etc.).
3. Development in the Islamic World (c. 9th century)
- Arabic scholars in cities like Baghdad, Cairo, and Cordoba further refined these numerals. Arabic mathematicians used them for a wide range of purposes — from astronomy to accounting.
- The Arabic version of the numerals became standardized in the Islamic world by the 9th century and were commonly used in mathematical treatises, scientific texts, and daily life.
- In addition to their mathematical utility, these numerals were spread through the translation movement during the Abbasid Caliphate. Many Greek, Persian, and Indian texts were translated into Arabic, which contributed to the growth and dissemination of the numeral system.
4. Transmission to Europe (12th–13th centuries)
- The numerals were introduced to Europe through Latin translations of Arabic works, especially during the Middle Ages. The 14th-century Italian mathematician Fibonacci played a crucial role in spreading the use of Arabic numerals in Europe, particularly with his work "Liber Abaci" (1202), which advocated for the adoption of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system instead of the Roman numerals that were prevalent in Europe at the time.
- The system was initially slow to catch on in Europe, where Roman numerals were still in widespread use. However, over the following centuries, the advantages of the Arabic numeral system (e.g., easier calculations and the use of zero) gradually led to its widespread adoption.
5. The "Arabic" Connection
- While these numerals actually originated in India, they became known as "Arabic numerals" in the West because of the role that Arabic scholars played in preserving, adapting, and transmitting them to Europe.
- The term "Arabic numerals" reflects the fact that they were introduced to Europe via Arabic texts, rather than directly from India.
Key Features of Arabic Numerals:
- Decimal System: The numerals are based on a base-10 system, meaning each place value represents a power of 10 (ones, tens, hundreds, etc.).
- Zero: The concept of zero as a number in its own right (rather than just a placeholder) was revolutionary and is considered one of the most important advancements in mathematics.
- Positional Notation: The value of a numeral depends on its position (e.g., 2 in the number 200 is worth two hundreds, while in 2 it is just two).
Summary of ARABIC NUMERALS:
- "Arabic numerals" originated in India. The decimal system was developed, included a ZERO (no angles).
- These numerals were taken to the Arab world, then were adapted and eventually the whole world.
- Arabic scholars helped preserve and refine these numerals. The system eventually reached Europe, where it replaced the cumbersome Roman numeral system - (ever tried to divide in Roman numerals?)
- Arabic numerals are used worldwide today, they owe their origin to the crucial role of Muslim scholars who transmitted and refined them.
