Imagine a world without zero. Counting apples would be a mess, complex calculations a nightmare, and even basic concepts like “nothing” would be difficult to express.

Thankfully, around the 2nd century AD in India, mathematicians took a giant leap forward with the invention of zero. This seemingly simple concept revolutionized mathematics, paving the way for the complex calculations we rely on today.

Before zero, number systems lacked a way to represent “nothingness.” This made calculations cumbersome. How do you mathematically communicate “nothing” with another person? What if we added “nothing” to a number, what would the number be — and how do you represent that addition in an equation?

Enter the Indian mathematicians. They developed a symbol for zero, called “shunya,” which literally translates to “empty”.

This seemingly simple invention had a profound impact.

Zero allowed for the development of positional number systems, like our decimal system. In these systems, the position of a digit determines its value. For example, in 102, the “1” is in the hundreds place, and the “2” is in the units place, thanks to zero holding the tens place. Without zero, such a system wouldn’t work.

With this positional system featuring zero in place, one can then conduct a proper addition or subtraction. Contrast that with the Roman numerals: 102 would have been “CII” — how would you add two (“II”) or twenty (“XX”) to “CII”?

It also empowers one to conduct more complex calculations beyond arithmetic. Imagine how you would multiply or divide in the Roman numeral system? “C” divided by “X” just simply will not be easy, while 100 divided by 10 makes such calculations easier.

In algebra, the invention of zero allowed us to represent numerically the concept of “nothing”. In calculus, which is based on the concept of limits, made it possible to calculate the values of functions or equations as they approach zero or nothingess — as well as infinity.

Today, zero is so ingrained in our lives that we rarely stop to think about its significance. Yet, from counting apples to space exploration, zero underpins the calculations that drive our world.

So next time you see a zero, remember – it’s not just an empty space; it’s a revolutionary concept that made complex calculations possible and opened doors to new mathematical frontiers.