16 curiosities about the number zero

This number has some mathematical and historical characteristics that make it unique.

Let's count to ten. Or to twenty. Or to a thousand. What number did we start with? Certainly not zero.

Nowadays it may seem to us something normal, everyday and that we use in a great number of elements of our life. However, zero is one of the most special numbers in existence..

Because, in fact, we are dealing with a non-number, since numbers serve to indicate the existence of a quantity of something (whether we are referring to measuring the quantity of elements, or the degree to which a certain property exists), while zero means its absence. In order to improve the understanding of this strange number, below you can see a series of 16 curiosities about the number zero.

16 curiosities and aspects related to the number zero

Below you can see a part of everything that makes the number zero so fascinating in the field of mathematics. If you know of any others, feel free to share them in the comments area.

1. Zero has two basic functions

We frequently use zero in our daily lives. However, we do not usually think about its functions. Mainly two can be highlighted.

First, zero as such is representative of nothingnessof the non-existence of a characteristic, property or object. However, the existence or non-existence of nothingness is one of the philosophical unknowns that have historically aroused most discussion. Can there be something that by definition consists in the fact of not existing? In fact, this issue goes back at least to the time of the pre-Socratic thinkers, especially Heraclitus and Parmenides.

The second of the functions is to serve as a positional element to mark a position to move to the next decimal place, which implies establishing a discussion on when to move from one decimal place to the next. Theoretically, everything can be divided infinitely many times.

2. Zero as such is a relatively recent invention.

Although it seems normal and commonplace to us today, zero as such was not formulated as a mathematical concept until around the 5th century. until around the 5th century. Cultures as advanced as the Greeks and Romans did not have a spelling for the concept of nothingness, considering the idea of mathematically conceptualizing non-existence unnecessary and even illogical.

Its application is attributed to the Hindu mathematician Aryabhata.Although some pre-Columbian cultures such as the Maya also used similar concepts (it was symbolized, for example, in the form of a shell). It is important to bear in mind that what is intended to be said is that what is new is the use of zero as a mathematical element, since the concept of nothingness has been taken into account since antiquity.

3. In ancient Babylon the positional zero already existed.

Although, as we have said before, a great number of ancient cultures did not have a concrete spelling to represent the absence of something, in some cases there were elements to indicate the presence of relatively large quantities, such as 505. In ancient Babylon they did not have a graphism to speak of emptiness, but in order to distinguish between quantities (505 is not the same as 55) they used two small wedges to separate the numbers.

Although in this case we can think that we are indicating a quantity in which we have hundreds and units but not tens, we are basically expressing a certain quantity, so that this substitute for zero would be merely positional. Also in the Sumerian civilization they had a mechanism that they used as positional zero, leaving an empty space between the symbols that represented the numbers.

4. Some animals are capable of understanding the concept

Although understanding the concept of nothingness requires a high level of abstraction, it has been demonstrated through several experiments that humans are not the only ones capable of understanding the concept of nothingness. is not the only one to be able to take it into account.. Other primates and even some birds such as parrots have shown sufficient cognitive ability to recognize when there is nothing.

5. It has properties that make it difficult to classify

Although this aspect may be widely known to most, zero has a number of mathematically curious properties. For example, it cannot be classified as either a positive or negative number, since it is only indicative of emptiness.for it is only indicative of emptiness. It is also neither even nor odd. However, it does fall within the rational and natural numbers, being mathematically obtainable.

6. Although calculable and mathematically obtainable, it has particular properties.

In the mathematical aspect, performing operations with this number reflects aspects that may seem strange. For example, adding or subtracting zero to something has no effect whatsoever (although at a logical level it may seem normal, the fact of adding or subtracting mathematically should imply some variation).

Multiplying by zero will always result in nothing, and dividing by this number is mathematically undefined (usually resulting in infinity). Likewise, raising any quantity to zero will result in unity..

7. Its name comes from Arabic, as does the word digit.

The concept of zero has reached our culture through the Arab mathematicianswho spread the concepts elaborated by the Hindus. The word zero came from the Arabic word sifr (meaning to be empty), which would end up deriving in our zero and, in the same way, would give rise to the word cipher. The word sifr, likewise, would be taken from the Sanskrit word shunya, which means nothing.

8. In our calendar there is no year zero

The calendar that a large part of the Western population uses today is called the Gregorian calendar. According to this calendar, we are currently in the year 2017 AD. The starting point of this calendar, then, is the more or less approximate date on which it is calculated that he would be born.

However, this starting point is not the year zero, but rather in the calendar, we go directly from year 1 B.C. to year 1 A.D. goes directly from year 1 BC to year 1 AD. This is because we order time from ordinal elements, from the first to the most recent.

9. Time, in general, does not contemplate the existence of a zero.

Taking into account the previous point, we can realize that, in fact, time is something fluid that we are not able to stop at any moment. Although it is perhaps possible, we do not know of any period in which there was no time. Therefore, zero as a symbol of nothingness could not be applied to elements such as time. could not be applied to elements such as time unless we refer to aspects such as the direct beginning of an activity or event.

10. Zero in computing

In a world that is becoming more and more technologically advanced, computer language is becoming more and more familiar to everyone. This language is based on the binary code, which uses only 0 and 1. act as indicators of open or closed, or true or false.or true or false. In principle, any other symbol could be possible.

11. The absolute zero

It is very likely that we have heard of the term absolute zero. This concept is linked to the world of thermodynamics.. It would be referring to the lowest temperature that can exist, which corresponds to -273 degrees Celsius or 0 degrees Kelvin.

However, this temperature is theoretical, not having been able to be reached experimentally.

12. Gravity... zero?

We usually consider zero gravity as the absence of gravityThe force of gravity is not zero in any of these cases, although it is lower than usual. However, the force of gravity is not zero in any of these cases, although it is lower than usual. Weightlessness is achieved when the environment around us and we ourselves are attracted with the same acceleration towards gravitational bodies.

13. The card of the Madman

One of the major arcana, the Fool, is a tarot card that is usually considered the zero arcane because of the need for what it represents to become a person. For there to be something, there has to be nothing. It represents the unconscious, madness, impulsivity, the irrational.. It is also a reflection of innovation and the capacity to dream and create, as well as the spiritual.

14. It would take time for the zero to appear in Europe

The decimal numbering system we use today, of Arabic origin, was introduced in Europe by Fibonacci. However, although Leonardo of Pisa (Fibonacci's real name) would also introduce zero, he would not take it into account as a numberconsidering that they started from one.

15. Worthless banknotes

Corruption is a widespread phenomenon among the ruling classes in many countries. In some cases, some associations have proceeded to issue zero-value banknotes as a sign of corruption. issued zero-value banknotes as a sign of protest.. One example is the zero rupee bill issued by the Fifth Column in India.

16. It supposes a high level of abstraction

At the mathematical level, zero tends to describe the non-presence of something. Existence and non-existence have been part of the concerns, thoughts and idiosyncrasies of all or almost all civilizations that have existed. But this somewhat philosophical conception requires a greater effort and mental capacity requires a greater effort and mental capacity than it may seem at first glance. Thus, the concept of zero, of nothing, implies a high capacity for abstraction and cognition that human beings take years to achieve.