HinduArabic

The Hindu-Arabic numeral system is the decimal positional numeral system most commonly used today throughout the world. It originated in India around the 3rd century BCE and was later transmitted to the Islamic world, where it was further developed before reaching Europe. The system uses ten symbols (0-9) and the position of each digit determines its value, which represents a significant advancement from earlier numeral systems. The inclusion of zero as a placeholder and a number in its own right is one of its most important innovations. The system gradually replaced Roman numerals in Europe after being introduced by Fibonacci in the 13th century, though widespread adoption took several centuries. Its efficiency in calculation and representation of large numbers contributed to its global dominance. Today, it is the standard system for mathematics, science, commerce, and everyday counting across most cultures worldwide. The transmission and adoption of this system represents one of the most important exchanges of knowledge in human history, facilitating advances in mathematics, astronomy, and engineering.