29. Březen 2004

Aryabhatta: The Great Indian Mathematician

Excerpts from a speech that I delivered on March 29, 2004 at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Few Americans are aware of the immense scientific contributions of India and China.

Albert Einstein wrote: “We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.”

The number zero was introduced by an Indian mathematician named Aryabhatta. We take the significance of the number zero for granted.

Yet, until one thousand five hundred (1500) years ago, mathematicians did not realize that it was necessary to include zero in their number system.

Today, the binary system of zeros and ones is the absolute cornerstone of computing.

It would have been impossible to develop computers based on the Roman system of numerals. Therefore, I argue that the introduction of zero into our number system is the greatest scientific achievement of all time.

It is difficult to disagree with the American writer Mark Twain, then, who said:

“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great grand mother of tradition.”

Yet, in the main, American history books omit the contributions of India. They omit the contributions of Arab scholars. They omit the contributions of China.

Posted by emeagwali at 10:18 | Comments (2)