Which civilization is credited with developing zero as a number in its own right and formalizing rules for its arithmetic?
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Indian civilization
Indian mathematicians, most notably Brahmagupta in the 7th century, were the first to define zero as a number and establish rules for its use in calculations. This breakthrough allowed for the development of the decimal system and complex algebra that we use today. The term "zero" itself evolved from the Sanskrit word shunya, which translates to "void" or "empty."
Also asked as:
- Which ancient civilization developed the placeholder symbol for zero into a number that could be used in calculations?