History of Computers - Zero

Introduction

Zero (0) is a number that is used to denote the absence of something, such as in binary where it is used when there is nothing in a particular place in the number to be raised to that place's power (see The Binary System for a clearer explanation of binary).

Overview

The History of Zero

Zero was first created in Ancient Babylon 300 and 400 BCE.[1] They were the first to conceive of a mark to signify the absence of a number in the particular place (like how the zero in 205 signifies that there is no significant figure in the tens' place).[2] In the 1600s Newton and Leibniz independently created with calculus by observing numbers and equations as they approached zero.[3]

What is zero?

Zero is simply a number/digit which indicates the absence of something. It is used in everything from algebra to binary and boolean logic.

Significance

Zero is one of the most important numbers when it comes to computers since it is one half of the numbers that make up the binary system (the other is 1, in case you didn't know), which is what all modern computers use to store data, perform mathematical operations, and generally compute. Without zero, we would have no concept of or way to notate the absence of something in terms of numbers. There could be no higher level math (ie calculus, or even algebra)[4], boolean logic, physics, or binary system; therefore there could be no computers. Zero is a big part of the mathematical foundation that our world and especially our computers are based upon.