The invention of zero as both a number and a placeholder is credited primarily to the Indian mathematician Brahmagupta in the 7th century CE. He defined zero as a number with its own mathematical rules, including addition and subtraction involving zero and negative numbers. Brahmagupta's work, particularly the Brahmasphutasiddhanta, was foundational in establishing zero mathematically.
Before Brahmagupta, the concept of zero existed in ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians and Mayans as a symbol for "nothingness," but it was in India that zero became a fully-fledged number. Another important figure was Aryabhata, an earlier Indian mathematician who used zero as a placeholder, paving the way for Brahmagupta's formalization.
The word "zero" itself derives from the Sanskrit word "shunya," meaning "empty" or "void".
The concept and symbol of zero spread from India to the Arab world and eventually to Europe, where it played a crucial role in the development of modern mathematics, including algebra and calculus.
In summary, while the idea of zero has roots in multiple ancient cultures, the invention of zero as a number with mathematical properties is credited to Brahmagupta in 7th-century India.
