0 (number): Difference between revisions

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imported>Julian Salazar
(started an article on the number 'zero')
 
imported>Blake R. Peters
(→‎Further Reading: Added Further Reading section, added three sources for further reading.)
 
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'''0''' ('''zero''') is a [[real number]] and is the [[integer]] between [[1 (number)|1]] and [[-1 (number)|-1]]. It is also the [[numerical digit]] which represents itself. As a number, it is used to signify a value of nothing, and as a digit, it is a placeholder for [[place value]] systems.
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'''0''' ('''zero''') is a [[real number]] and is the [[integer]] between [[1 (number)|1]] and [[-1 (number)|-1]], which signifies a value of nothing. It is also a [[numerical digit]] and used as a placeholder for [[place value]] systems.


== History ==
== History ==
'''Zero''' is historically the last digit to be introduced. Its use comes
The number zero was invented twice - once in India and once in Mesoamerica.  This invention is considered especially significant because it required a considerable cognitive leap to achieve and because it opened the door to a host of new applications for numbers.
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==Further Reading==
* Bourbaki, Nicolas. ''Elements of the History of Mathematics'' (1998) - can be found (in limited form) on [http://books.google.com/books?id=Qvo8-KC__VAC&pg=PP1&dq=Elements+of+the+History+of+Mathematics#v=onepage&q=&f=false Google Books]
* Kaplan, Robert. ''The Nothing that is: A Natural History of Zero'' (1999) - can be found (in limited form) on [http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn0EBVsfi1YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+nothing+that+is+:+a+natural+history+of+zero#v=onepage&q=The%20nothing%20that%20is%20%3A%20a%20natural%20history%20of%20zero&f=false Google Books]
* Seife, Charles.  ''Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea'' (2000) -  can be found (in limited form) on [http://books.google.com/books?id=obJ70nxVYFUC&pg=PP1&dq=zero#v=onepage&q=&f=false Google Books]


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== Use in Mathematics ==
== Use in Mathematics ==


== Use in Computer Science ==
== Use in Computer Science ==
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Latest revision as of 03:30, 6 November 2009

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0 (zero) is a real number and is the integer between 1 and -1, which signifies a value of nothing. It is also a numerical digit and used as a placeholder for place value systems.

History

The number zero was invented twice - once in India and once in Mesoamerica. This invention is considered especially significant because it required a considerable cognitive leap to achieve and because it opened the door to a host of new applications for numbers.

Further Reading

  • Bourbaki, Nicolas. Elements of the History of Mathematics (1998) - can be found (in limited form) on Google Books
  • Kaplan, Robert. The Nothing that is: A Natural History of Zero (1999) - can be found (in limited form) on Google Books
  • Seife, Charles. Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea (2000) - can be found (in limited form) on Google Books