Hinduarabiske

Hinduarabiske, commonly referred to as Hindu-Arabic numerals, is the decimal numeral system that is used worldwide today. It consists of ten digits (0 through 9) and relies on base-10 place-value notation, whereby the value of a digit depends on its position in the number. This system enables compact representation of large numbers and facilitates arithmetic, fractions, and scientific notation.

The development of Hinduarabiske numerals began in India, evolving from early Brahmi scripts and the concept of zero as a number and placeholder. Indian mathematicians such as Brahmagupta contributed rules for arithmetic and the formal use of zero, which became a pivotal feature of the system. From India, the numerals and associated mathematical ideas spread to the Islamic world, where scholars refined the notation and algebraic methods. Through Arabic translations and trade, the numerals reached medieval Europe.

In Europe, Hinduarabiske numerals gained prominence during the 12th to 13th centuries, notably after Leonardo of Pisa, known as Fibonacci, popularized them in his Liber Abaci. Over subsequent centuries, they gradually supplanted Roman numerals in commerce, science, and education. Today, Hindu-Arabic numerals are the global standard for counting, computation, and digital technology, supporting decimals, fractions, and floating-point arithmetic.

The term is often referred to as Arabic numerals in Western contexts, though many languages call them Hindu-Arabic numerals. Variations in glyph shapes exist (for example, Eastern Arabic numerals), but the underlying base-10, place-value system with zero remains universal.