What is the deal with zero?

Zero is not one of the counting numbers yet our number system would be incomplete without it. It is extremely important as a placeholder. It makes the difference between 11 and 101, or between 101 and 1001. I cannot imagine life without zero in any number system....

Zero Plus Zero = Zero

It appears that I am obsessed with zero. Or is it that I worry about nothing. But therein lies the question of the ages. Is it really nothing or is it not nothing? So, really ‘What is the Deal With Zero?’ Many ancient mathematicians wrung their hands in...

Zero Divided by Zero

I asked three people a question that has baffled mathematicians throughout the ages. What is Zero divided by Zero? Sam said zero. No, you are wrong, said Bill, it is 1. Amanda said  “both of you are dead wrong. You are weak in math. The correct answer is...

Who Invented Zero

Who invented zero? This is a question that has been asked by many mathematicians over the years. There have been various answers to this question but no one is absolutely sure of who invented zero. However, this is not the only perplexing question about zero. The...

Zero Goes West

The Islamic world, after al-Khwarizmi, was happily using the Hindu-Arabic numerals, complete with zero. But it took the Christian world almost one thousand years to come to terms with this new and awe inspiring system. The reason: Christianity was very much afraid of...