Hindu–Arabic numeral system

The system of Hindu-Arabic numerals is a positional decimal numeral system that evolved from the Brahmi numeral system in ancient India. The Arabs brought this system to Europe after it found its way to Persia, the numeral system became to be called "Arabic" by the Europeans. An important characteristic of the system is the use of a digit zero, that precedes the positive 1. In a more developed form, the system also uses a decimal marker (at first a mark over the ones digit but now more usually a decimal point or a decimal comma which separates the ones place from the tenths place), and also a symbol for “these digits repeat ad infinitum” (recur). In modern usage, this latter symbol is usually a vinculum (a horizontal line placed over the repeating digits); the need for it can be removed by representing fractions as simple ratios with a division sign, but this obviates many of Arabic numbers’ more obvious advantages, such as the ability to immediately determine which of two numbers is greater. Historically, however, there has been much variation. In this more developed form, the numeral system can symbolize any rational number using only 13 symbols (the ten digits, decimal marker, vinculum or division sign, and an optional prepended dash to indicate a negative number).

Symbol sets

Various symbol sets are used to represent numbers in this system, all of which evolved from the Brahmi symbols [1]. At present the following sets are being used:

"Arabic" numerals

These are the most commonly used symbols. (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Devanagari numerals

These symobols are used in languages using the Devanagari script. (०, १, २, ३, ४, ५, ६, ७, ८, ९)

Standard Arabic numerals

These are used in the Arabic language.(٠.١.٢.٣.٤.٥.٦.٧.٨٩)

East Arabic numerals

Used in Arabic countries east of Egypt, and Farsi and Urdu languages. (۰,۱,۲, ۳, ۴, ۵, ۶, ۷, ۸, ۹)

Gurumukhi numerals

Used in the Punjabi language. (੦, ੧, ੨, ੩, ੪, ੫, ੬, ੭, ੮, ੯)

Bangla numerals

Used in Bengali language (০, ১, ২, ৩, ৪, ৫, ৬, ৭, ৮, ৯)

Oriya numerals

Used in Oriya language (୦, ୧, ୨, ୩, ୪, ୫, ୬, ୭, ୮, ୯)

Tamil numerals

Used in Tamil language (௦, ௧, ௨, ௩, ௪, ௫, ௬, ௭, ௮, ௯)

Kannada numerals

Used in Kannada language (೦, ೧, ೨, ೩, ೪, ೫, ೬, ೭, ೮, ೯)

Malayalam numerals

Used in Malayalam language (൦, ൧, ൨, ൩, ൪, ൫, ൬, ൭, ൮, ൯)

Thai numerals

Used in Thai language (๐, ๑, ๒, ๓, ๔, ๕, ๖, ๗, ๘, ๙)

Tibetan numerals

Used in Tibetan language (༠, ༡, ༢, ༣, ༤, ༥, ༦, ༧, ༨, ༩)

Origins of the Numeral system

Hindu numerals in the first century AD