The number 3 as a concept was not invented by a single person; it is a natural number used since ancient times. The digit "3" in its modern form evolved from ancient writing systems, including Indian Brahmic numerals, and was later adopted and modified in Arabic and Western numeral systems over centuries. However, if the question "who invented the 3" refers to particular inventions or concepts involving the number 3, here are some notable inventors linked to inventions named or involving "3":
- The three-position traffic signal was invented and patented by Garrett Augustus Morgan in 1923. This was a key safety device for traffic management.
- The 3-point seatbelt, a vital automotive safety device, was invented by Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin.
If the question was specific to the mathematical number 3, it is a fundamental and natural number that has been recognized in various ancient cultures and numeral systems but was not invented by one individual. The digit's shape evolved over centuries from ancient Indian numerals through Arabic influences to the modern Western digit 3.
