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I'll defer to Cpl Vic Burk on this topic
How Did the Romans Represent Zero?
Posted from historyfacts.comPosted in these groups: 
Mathematics
Mathematics
Posted 3 d ago
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen I've read various ways of how zero was represented from nothing more than a blank spot between digits to symbols. Different cultures used different methods. From all I read, zero, in its current form originated by an Indian mathematician around 726 AD with the circle indicated there is nothing inside, thus, of no value. This information may or may not be accurate. Several cultures claim to have invented zero, but which one was really the first? Who know?!
I remember in one of my math classes we had to come up with an algorithm to divide Roman Numerals. At first this seemed like an impossible task until really studied it and realized it wasn't that much more difficult than the aerobic numbers we use today. Side note: they must not teach Roman Numerals any longer. I haven't had a student in years who could decipher them. (Hell, today most can't even read a clock if it's not digital) As part of my daily date I list it in Roman numeral.
Good article Colonel!
I remember in one of my math classes we had to come up with an algorithm to divide Roman Numerals. At first this seemed like an impossible task until really studied it and realized it wasn't that much more difficult than the aerobic numbers we use today. Side note: they must not teach Roman Numerals any longer. I haven't had a student in years who could decipher them. (Hell, today most can't even read a clock if it's not digital) As part of my daily date I list it in Roman numeral.
Good article Colonel!
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Cpl Vic Burk
SP5 Dennis Loberger - If you want a challenge, check out Mayan numbers! It's a base 20 system vs. our base 10. The theory is that because you have twenty digits (fingers, thumbs and toes) is where the base 20 comes from.
Off the subject somewhat but for thought:
Truth be known, our unit of measurement system (the English system) is very complicated because of all the different bases we use.
12" to a foot - Base 12
36" to a yard - Base 36
3' to a yard - base 3
5,280 feet to a mile or 1,760 yards
And I could go on and on. Then go to measurements and we have a lot of different bases
16 ounces to a pound
4 quarts to a gallon.
The only reason it isn't complicated to us is because it's what we learned first and grew up with. Metric makes a lot more sense because it's all base 10. Foreigners who use metric have a hard time because of all the different bases we use.
Some of you may remember back in the 1960's there was a move to go to metric but it was defeated because people didn't want to change. Nixon signed a bill to keep us on the English system but within a certain time period everything had to be dual labeled. That's why you see everything now days with both measurement systems. ex: 1 gallon 3.78 liters.
Off the subject somewhat but for thought:
Truth be known, our unit of measurement system (the English system) is very complicated because of all the different bases we use.
12" to a foot - Base 12
36" to a yard - Base 36
3' to a yard - base 3
5,280 feet to a mile or 1,760 yards
And I could go on and on. Then go to measurements and we have a lot of different bases
16 ounces to a pound
4 quarts to a gallon.
The only reason it isn't complicated to us is because it's what we learned first and grew up with. Metric makes a lot more sense because it's all base 10. Foreigners who use metric have a hard time because of all the different bases we use.
Some of you may remember back in the 1960's there was a move to go to metric but it was defeated because people didn't want to change. Nixon signed a bill to keep us on the English system but within a certain time period everything had to be dual labeled. That's why you see everything now days with both measurement systems. ex: 1 gallon 3.78 liters.
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Sgt Jim Belanus
the teachers really pounded the English sys into our head in the 60's. funny how much is retained. A lot of our northern neighbors still use English even after converting about 30 years ago. .
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I find this topic fascinating and this is a book of interest IMHO.
Signifying Nothing (The Semiotics of Zero) by Brian Rotman ISBN: 0-8047-2129-7
Signifying Nothing (The Semiotics of Zero) by Brian Rotman ISBN: 0-8047-2129-7
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